00:00Uganda's opposition leader, Kiza Benseje, refused to accept the lawyers being forced upon him for his treason trial on Wednesday
00:08after his chosen advocates were arrested or barred from the country.
00:12The 70-year-old, long-time rival of President Yoyerika Guta Museveni, has been in jail since late 2024 when
00:20he was kidnapped in Kenya and smuggled back to Uganda.
00:23Last month, his main lawyer, former Kampala mayor, Arias Lukwago, was seized by the army and thrown in jail, while
00:30his other lead lawyer, Kenya's Martha Karua, was barred from entering the country.
00:34When his trial began on Monday, the court said he had to choose from a list of state-approved lawyers,
00:40but Benseje refused.
00:42The judge said he had two weeks to accept the lawyers and adjourned the case until July 29.
00:48Uganda has seen mounting political repression in recent months, with the army arresting opposition figures, lawyers and shutting down a
00:55major media group.
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