A primary prosecution witness in the treason trial of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye told the High Court Criminal Division that the four-time presidential candidate and his alleged co-conspirators planned to carry out a drone attack on President Yoweri Museveni and frame the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group. 

Testifying before Justice Emmanuel Baguma, Mr Andrew Wilson, an American private security contractor who said he acted as an undercover informant for Ugandan security agencies, detailed a proposal discussed during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 28, 2024.

One of Dr Kizza Besigye’s co-accused, Hajj Obeid Lutale raises his hand while in the dock during High Court proceedings on August 19, 2026. PHOTO/ ABUBAKER LUBOWA 

“I suggested that if the group was serious about overthrowing the Government, they should consider assassinating President Museveni,” Wilson told court. He alleged that Dr Besigye and his associate Joel Wakayima agreed with the suggestion and discussed targeting vulnerable points of the President’s movements, claiming they had contacts inside State House.
According to Wilson, the group deliberated on how to divert suspicion away from their organization to avoid public backlash and safeguard their broader agenda to destabilize the nation.

“Wakayima wanted to take credit for the attack, but he and Besigye disagreed. They wanted the attack to be attributed to ADF,” Wilson testified.
The witness detailed a multi-stage strategy aimed at destabilizing Uganda, including recruiting personnel, disrupting the economy, creating civil unrest, targeting influential figures, and ultimately securing military backing to seize territory and establish a “shadow government.”
Wilson also claimed the group considered flying an unmanned drone into an engine of a commercial aircraft at Entebbe International Airport to cause maximum chaos and amplify their agenda through the media.

To gather evidence, Wilson said he used hidden recording equipment disguised inside a mobile power bank to capture audio and video footage of his interactions with Dr Besigye and Mr Wakayima. He subsequently handed over these recordings, alongside photos and reports, to a Ugandan security contact identified as Moses.
Under the guise of representing a fictitious Kurdish firm offering funds, weapons, counter-feit currency, and technical aid, Wilson said his fake company sought access to Ugandan airfields, banking access, business licenses, and official travel documents in return.

He further testified about a plan to train up to 60 recruits at a pastoral center in Kisumu, Kenya. He stated that after providing $5,000 to facilitate recruit logistics during a subsequent meeting in Geneva in June 2024—a transaction he claims was captured on video—he traveled to Kisumu. The operation was disrupted when Kenyan security forces raided the facility and arrested several suspects, prompting Wilson to leave for Europe.
The witness added that Dr Besigye provided coordinates, elevation, and runway details for an airstrip in Mahagi, Democratic Republic of Congo, intended to act as a delivery hub for weapons and logistical supplies.

Legal context
The trial continues in the absence of Dr Besigye after the High Court ruled earlier that proceedings would move forward despite his non-attendance, following medical clearance from Mulago National Referral Hospital after he had previously collapsed in court. 
Dr Besigye is jointly charged alongside his aide, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and UPDF Captain Denis Oola. The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2024, across Uganda, Switzerland, Kenya, and other territories, the accused conspired to overthrow the Government of Uganda by force of arms. 

All the accused persons deny the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of death upon conviction. The case has also touched upon separate proceedings involving former Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who faces charges of misprision of treason for allegedly failing to notify authorities of the alleged plot.