Private security investigator and state witness Andrew Wilson has informed the High Court that he utilized a hidden camera concealed inside a power bank to covertly film meetings where opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye allegedly discussed acquiring arms and toppling the Ugandan government.
Wilson asserted that he clandestinely recorded sessions involving Besigye and Joel Wakayima, a Ugandan living in Switzerland. For a second consecutive day, Wilson was giving evidence in the treason trial where Besigye, Obeid Lutale and Capt Denis Oola are charged with conspiring to overthrow the government.
The matter is being presided over by Justice Emmanuel Baguma, while Besigye is being tried in his absence.
The witness informed the court that Wakayima had contacted him to help facilitate provision of weapons, including hand grenades, drones and surface-to-air missiles, to a group reportedly linked to Besigye, and also to organize paramilitary training for between 40 and 60 individuals.
He stated that the planned training was intended to occur in Kisumu, Kenya, but the main airport was under surveillance, which led to deliberations on alternative routes for moving the alleged arms.
According to Wilson, Besigye proposed using an airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), claiming he had contacts capable of assisting to receive the shipment. Wilson stated Besigye informed him he had earlier used that same airport to receive a comparable consignment.
He testified that he started offering Besigye and Wakayima reasons for not delivering the weapons after choosing to cooperate with Ugandan security organs.
Wilson told the court that on November 28, 2023, he encountered Wakayima and Besigye at a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. Besigye suggested continuing the meeting at his apartment, but Wilson refused, stating he had already set up his own apartment with recording devices.
The meeting was later conducted at Wilson’s apartment and the talks covered alleged schemes to obtain weapons and attack the city of Kampala. He said he questioned Besigye on whether he possessed the ability to seize and hold the city, to which Besigye purportedly replied that he would depend on senior military contacts.
The witness further testified that the killing of President Yoweri Museveni was deliberated, with the suspected conspirators weighing the use of drone airstrikes.
Wilson stated the group worried that directly connecting the assassination to Besigye would harm his reputation and thus considered attributing the murder to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
He additionally testified that Besigye allegedly claimed he had previously spied on the President.
Wilson told court his associates were ready to provide $5 million (approximately Shs18 billion), which would be placed into a Dubai bank account listing Besigye as a signatory.
He said he frequently proposed bringing in National Unity Platform (NUP) leader and former presidential contender Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, but Besigye allegedly turned down the suggestion.
Wilson also testified that another meeting was scheduled for June 2024 to conclude preparations for the intended Kisumu training.
He said the deliberations covered schemes to trigger civil disorder, including deploying a drone to disrupt a commercial plane at Entebbe International Airport and then using media to hold the government responsible.
According to the witness, the larger strategy was to generate chaos and have the military seize control of government. He also testified that the group considered acquiring fake $5,000 bills, valued at about Shs18.6 million, to support the Kisumu operation and undermine Uganda’s economy.
The state witness further testified that Wakayima purportedly suggested exploding a hand grenade at Café Javas on Acacia Avenue in Kampala because government officials were said to regularly visit the location.
He said Wakayima was subsequently detained in Geneva and that Besigye supplied contacts for individuals who could help in obtaining his release.
Wilson told court he later journeyed to Kisumu for the alleged training, where several persons were arrested, including 36 Ugandans who were later returned to Uganda and charged with terrorism-related offences.
He said Besigye was in Nairobi at the time of the arrests. Wilson also testified concerning another encounter with Besigye in Athens, Greece, on September 29, 2024.
He said the encounter occurred in the basement of Athens International Airport after Besigye came back from the United States and was set to attend a conference in Greece.
Wilson said he travelled with a colleague who stayed at a distance while filming the meeting and offering security. The witness was guided in testimony by chief state attorney Richard Birivumbuka, supported by assistant director of public prosecutions (DPP) Thomas Jatiko.
Capt Denis Oola is represented by Sylvia Namawejje Ebitu, Sarah Awero and Julius Sserwambala, while Lutale has no legal representation.
The prosecution contends that Besigye, Lutale and Oola conducted meetings in Uganda, Kenya, Greece and Switzerland to seek funding, obtain weapons and organize paramilitary operations aimed at overthrowing the government.
The State says it will depend on witness testimony, audio and video recordings, social media communications, immigration records and telephone data to support its case.
