Excited Besigye supporters give him money after treason case dismissed

Tuesday July 26, 2016

Kizza Besigye Photo/File

Excitement hit the city of Kampala, Uganda on Tuesday after the treason case against veteran opposition leader Kiza Besigye was dismissed.

A Uganda court dismissed the case on grounds that the state failed to provide witnesses and evidence against the case.

According to a video by NTV Uganda, the supporters crowded Besigye's car stretching their hands to give him money.

Besigye did not resist collecting the money and indeed showed his gratitude.

Uganda's television said this happened shortly before his car was towed away to Jinja Road Police.

This, however, pulled another surprise on how the opposition leader pulls large crowds.

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According to The Observer, the FDC presidential candidate could have bagged at least Sh112 million from individual supporters at rallies by the end of his campaigns before elections were held.

The publication reports most of his supporters voluntarily offered to donate the money.

Besigye was arrested and flown to Moroto in May after holding protests against President Yoweri Museveni's re-election and swearing himself in as president.

This was after a video surfaced on social media depicting him taking the oath of office for president.
He was charged with treason , a capital offence in the country.

He was later released on Sh100 million non-cash bond pending the hearing of his treason case.

Besigye is the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change and Museveni's main rival.

Kampala High Court judge Wilson Masalu freed him on Tuesday and ordered him to list four sureties.

His defence team named the four as FDC president Mugisha Muntu, party general secretary Nathan Nandala, Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Mugume and Rubaga Division mayor Joyce Ssebugwawo.

Musalu said he granted Besigye bail after considering all factors including his "advanced age", previous court sessions and the sureties.

But he ordered the opposition leader to refrain from acts of violence and maintain peace until his case is determined.

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