Uganda opposition leader released on bail News
Uganda opposition leader released on bail

[JURIST] Ugandan opposition leader and presidential challenger Dr. Kizza Besigye [BBC profile], who has been imprisoned [JURIST report] since November on charges of treason and rape was released on bail Monday by the Ugandan High Court. Uganda's military court, which previously declared itself unbound by High Court decisions, had extended Besigye's warrant to keep him in jail on additional terrorism charges, a tactic the presiding High Court judge called illegal in his decision to release Besigye. Supporters of Besigye's Forum for Democratic Change [party website] party say the charges are false and were alleged to prevent Besigye from challenging President Yoweri Museveni [BBC profile] in the upcoming presidential elections, where Besigye currently enjoys a slight lead in the polls despite having been unable to campaign. Besigye pleaded not guilty [JURIST report] to all charges during a hearing last week. BBC News has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase