Uganda DPP seeks jail time for lawyer Eron Kiiza over witness posts in Besigye trial

Uganda's Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has initiated legal proceedings to commit lawyer Eron Kiiza for criminal contempt of court. The application, filed before the High Court Criminal Division in Kampala, accuses Kiiza of violating the sub judice rule through public comments made on his X (formerly Twitter) account concerning the ongoing treason trial of opposition figure Dr. Kizza Besigye and two others.

The DPP contends that Kiiza's posts, particularly those discussing the evidence and credibility of prosecution witnesses in the case, constitute a "parallel trial in the court of public opinion." This, the prosecution argues, has the potential to prejudice the ongoing court proceedings, intimidate witnesses, and ultimately undermine the administration of justice in Uganda.

Specifically, the application cites posts made by Kiiza in July 2026, which allegedly examined contradictions in the statement of a state witness, Andrew Wilson Orlando. Kiiza reportedly described the witness's statement as "untrue" and referred to him as a "liar." The DPP asserts that these publications attacked the witness's credibility before he had testified, risking the influence of public perception on the trial's outcome.

In addition to seeking Kiiza's commitment to civil prison or a fine, the DPP is requesting court orders for Kiiza to permanently delete the contentious posts, refrain from making further public comments on the case's merits, and publish a court-approved apology and retraction on his X account for seven consecutive days. The prosecution also accuses Kiiza of attempting to pressure state-appointed defense lawyers involved in the Besigye case, further interfering with the trial's conduct.