One of Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s outspoken lawyers Eron Kiiza, has been sentenced to a nine month jail term by the General Court Martial for alleged contempt of court.
Kiiza was one of over 100 lawyers representing Besigye and Obeid Lutaale Kamulegeya in the army court where the two accused persons are facing charges of involving illegal possession of firearms.
Brig Robert Freeman Mugabe , the chairman of the court martial sentenced Kiiza without hearing his defence something that angered the many lawyers in court .
Mugabe , in his ruling said Kiiza had confronted and assaulted military court officers, was shouting on top of his voice and banging metal bars which behaviour was all in contempt of court
This was not the first time the same court has sentenced lawyers .
In 2004, lawyers; Erias Lukwago and Caleb Alaka were convicted of contempt of the same court by the late Lt Gen Elly Tumwine in the treason case against Dr Kizza Besigye. They were fined Shs 1,000 or two weeks in prison, but both paid the fine.
In 2018, city lawyer Jimmy Muyanja, who was the lead lawyer in the case against Boda Boda 2010 Association patron, Abdullah Kitatta, was indefinitely suspended from appearing before the army court. The then-Court Martial chairperson, Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, dismissed Muyanja for misconduct after he banged the table while making his submission. Gutti ordered that Muyanja never return to the Court Martial under his leadership.
