KAMPALA, Uganda | Court sessions in the treason case against opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye and his co-accused ally Hajj Obeid Lutale turned into chaos this morning as violence erupted in the courtroom, and defence lawyers stormed out in protest over prolonged pre-trial detention and the absence of lead counsel Martha Karua.

Supporters of Besigye clashed with unidentified muscular men believed to be undercover security operatives. The violence broke out after opposition official Ingrid Turinawe was seen filming the overbearing security presence in court.

One of the plainclothes men reportedly grabbed her phone and began attacking people, sparking a physical altercation.

Dr Besigye and Hajj Lutale, who are jointly charged with treason and misprision of treason alongside UPDF Captain Denis Oola, were brought to court following a surprise production warrant issued just a day earlier. The trio had originally been scheduled to reappear on May 29.

Brsigye’s lawyer, Elias Lukwago, told court that they had not been served with a letter or any application in order for them to prepare accordingly, arguing that they didn’t know the exact reason they had been called in court, and further asked court to refer the proceedings to high court .

The court presided over by Chief Magistrate Christine Nantenge said that there was no reason why the file should be sent to the High Court.

Nantenge further dismissed the prayers and asked the lawyers to wait and first hear what prosecution Richard Birivumbuka and Joseph Kyomuhendo wanted to inform the court.

Lukwago asked the court for permission to get out of the proceedings since they didn’t have instructions from matters beyond a mandatory bail application.

Besigye asked whether it was fair for the court to proceed without his lawyers, who had stormed out. Nantenge told Besigye to listen to what Birivumbuka wanted to do today.

When the proceedings resumed, Birivumbuka informed the court that he wanted to amend the charges and amend grammatical errors and typos.

Chief Magistrate Christine Nantenge said that court was not going to proceed in the absence of Besigye’s lawyers and adjourned the proceedings to 29th May, which had been fixed earlier.