The treason trial of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has taken a new direction after the prosecution’s key witness, Andrew Wilson Orlando, presented a series of secretly recorded videos and audio clips in court.

Orlando, a British-American private security businessman, told court that the recordings were captured during meetings allegedly held in Switzerland, Greece and Kenya.

Among the evidence presented was a five-minute recording said to have been taken during an alleged meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

However, questions emerged over one of the key clips after Dr Besigye’s face was reportedly not visible in the footage presented before court.

The video allegedly showed only the back of a person while the witness attempted to identify another individual in the recording as Joel Wakayima, a Ugandan who was living in Belgium.

Orlando told court that the recordings were obtained through a covert operation using hidden recording devices placed in items such as power banks, watches and chargers.

He explained that the equipment was designed to secretly capture conversations during meetings without the knowledge of participants.

According to the witness, the recordings contained discussions allegedly involving weapons, military training, counterfeit currency and plans to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement government.

The prosecution has relied heavily on Orlando’s testimony as it seeks to prove allegations against Dr Besigye and his co-accused.

Besigye and his supporters have denied the accusations, maintaining that the charges are politically motivated.

During his testimony, Orlando defended the authenticity of the recordings, telling court that the quality of some clips was affected because the operation was still in its early stages.

He said the first meeting was conducted before he had fully prepared his equipment and methods for capturing clearer footage.

The witness assured court that higher-quality recordings would later be presented as the trial continues.

The introduction of the recordings has become one of the major developments in the case, with the prosecution seeking to use them as evidence of alleged conversations among the accused.

The defence team is expected to closely examine the recordings and challenge issues surrounding their quality, identification of individuals and the circumstances under which they were obtained.

The case has attracted national and international attention because of Dr Besigye’s long political history as one of President Museveni’s strongest opponents.

Besigye, who has contested several presidential elections, has repeatedly accused the government of using legal cases to suppress political opposition.

The prosecution, however, maintains that the case is based on evidence gathered during investigations into alleged criminal activities.

The court proceedings are continuing as both sides present their arguments over the recordings and other evidence submitted before the judge.

The outcome of the trial is being closely watched by political actors, human rights groups and supporters of the opposition leader across Uganda and beyond.

As the hearing progresses, questions surrounding the covert operation, the recordings and the identities of people appearing in the videos are expected to remain central issues in the courtroom.