The treason trial involving opposition politician Dr Kizza Besigye took a dramatic turn after prosecution witness Andrew Wilson told the High Court in Kampala that Kenyan police had allegedly prepared the scene where Besigye and his co-accused Hajji Obeid Lutale were arrested in Nairobi.

Wilson, a prosecution witness who describes himself as a private investigator and former military officer, made the claims while being cross-examined by lawyers representing Lutale. The testimony concerns events surrounding the November 16, 2024 arrest at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi.

According to Wilson, two pistols and what was described in court as fake or counterfeit currency were already inside the meeting room before Lutale arrived. He said the apartment had been arranged in advance as part of what he described as an intelligence-led operation.

Wilson told court that Kenyan police had facilitated the rental of the apartment and had placed the firearms and alleged counterfeit currency inside the room. His evidence was presented during cross-examination, where defence lawyers were questioning the circumstances surrounding the alleged recovery of the items.

The witness further told court that Besigye and Lutale were brought into the apartment to discuss an alleged plan to overthrow the Ugandan government. Wilson said he had played a role in bringing the two men to the location.

Wilson’s account raises questions about how the scene was prepared before the arrival of the accused. He agreed with defence questioning that the operation and the scene appeared to have been stage-managed as an intelligence operation.

The witness also admitted that he personally handled the firearms after entering the room. He told court that the guns were loaded and that he removed the bullets from their magazines because he considered it necessary for safety reasons.

Defence lawyer Farouq Kizito Kamulegeya challenged Wilson over his decision to touch and unload the firearms, particularly because the weapons could later become important pieces of evidence in the case.

The defence also raised questions about the potential forensic implications of Wilson handling the guns. Lawyers argued that if the firearms were subjected to forensic examination, Wilson’s fingerprints could potentially be found on them.

Wilson said he did not know where the two pistols and the alleged counterfeit currency were at the time of his testimony, adding another issue for the defence to explore concerning the handling and preservation of the alleged evidence.

The testimony also appeared to differ from an earlier account Wilson had given in court. Earlier in the proceedings, he had reportedly told court that Besigye brought two loaded pistols to the Nairobi meeting and that he later unloaded them.

During the latest cross-examination, however, Wilson agreed that the firearms were already inside the room before Lutale arrived and that the apartment had been prepared beforehand. The difference between the accounts has become an important issue during the defence’s questioning of the witness.

Wilson said he travelled from Uganda to Nairobi in November 2024 as part of the operation and worked with an associate who used the name Zac Ahmed. He said Kenyan security personnel were involved in facilitating access to the apartment where the meeting was eventually held.

The witness described the operation as intelligence-led and said he had lured Besigye and Lutale into the room. He maintained, however, that the decision to place the firearms inside the apartment was not his responsibility.

Wilson also told court that Lutale remained largely quiet during the meeting. According to the witness, Lutale did not engage in discussions about the alleged plot beyond exchanging an Arabic greeting with him.

This testimony has been closely examined by the defence as lawyers seek to establish what exactly happened inside the Nairobi apartment and who was responsible for the alleged weapons and other items found there.

Besigye, Lutale and Captain Denis Oola are facing treason charges over allegations that they participated in a plan to overthrow the Ugandan government. The accused have denied the allegations.

Prosecution allegations include claims that meetings connected to the alleged plot were held in Uganda and abroad, including Kenya, Greece and Switzerland. The State says it intends to rely on witness testimony, recordings, communications and other evidence during the trial.

Besigye and Lutale were arrested in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, before initially facing charges before Uganda’s General Court Martial. The case later moved to the High Court after legal developments concerning the military court’s jurisdiction over civilians.

The latest testimony has therefore placed the circumstances surrounding the Nairobi arrest under renewed scrutiny, particularly the preparation of the apartment, the presence of the firearms and the handling of the alleged evidence.

As the trial continues, the court will hear further evidence and allow the prosecution to respond to issues raised during cross-examination. The testimony of Wilson remains part of the evidence that the court will have to assess alongside the defence’s challenges and any other evidence presented during the proceedings.