The treason case against Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his aide Hajj Obeid Lutale has officially been transferred to the High Court after the Nakawa Chief Magistrate ruled her court lacked the legal power to hear it.

The move comes nearly eight months after the two were arrested and detained at Luzira Prison, with their bail requests and a motion for the magistrate’s withdrawal still pending.

On Thursday, Nakawa Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege ruled that her court could not entertain any application related to the treason charge, including the defense’s request for bail and the motion calling for her recusal.

Besigye and Lutale were present in court under heavy security and were received with chants of “We shall overcome someday” from fellow inmates as they entered the courtroom.

The duo’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago, earlier this month filed a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission accusing Magistrate Nantege of misconduct and refusing to disqualify herself from the case despite allegations of bias.

“She has failed to pronounce herself on the simple matter of computing the remand period,” Lukwago said.

He further argued that Besigye and Lutale are eligible for bail, having spent over 180 days in remand, in accordance with Ugandan law governing capital offences.

“Even guideline 10 of the Chief Justice’s practice guidelines directs that in cases involving capital offences, if an accused person spends more than 180 days on remand, the file should be forwarded to the High Court for consideration of mandatory bail. She declined to do even that,” he added.

Following the magistrate’s ruling, Nakawa Court officially confirmed it would not handle the case further and declared its transfer to the High Court.

The matter was adjourned to June 26, 2025, when the High Court is expected to begin hearing the pending applications.

Besigye and Lutale were remanded back to Luzira Prison to await their next court appearance.