PRESIDENT MUSEVENI of Uganda faces growing criticism from his fellow Commonwealth leaders because of his regime’s increasingly harsh treatment of the main opposition leader, Kizza Besigye.

As the Commonwealth summit opens in Malta today, with talks supposed to focus on world trade, diplomats there said that the abuse of power by the veteran Ugandan leader was becoming the issue of the summit.

Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, wants the meeting to examine human rights failures among the 53 member states, and Uganda is fast becoming the most serious issue on the table.

“There is disquiet,” a British official said. “Many are asking whether Uganda is an appropriate host for the next Commonwealth summit in 2007.”

Tony Blair and other Commonwealth leaders, particularly those of Australia and Canada, are expected to raise the matter with Mr Museveni when the heads of government hold talks today.

But the Ugandans show no signs of compromising. As Mr Museveni flew in to Malta, the authorities in Kampala stepped up moves against Dr Besigye, who was arrested this month on charges of treason and rape.

This time Dr Besigye, Mr Museveni’s former ally and physician, was hauled before a military court martial and charged with terrorism and illegal possession of arms. At times the proceedings became almost farcical. General Elly Tumwine, the chairman, charged two of Dr Besigye’s defence lawyers with contempt of court for talking out of turn.

Then Stig Barlyng, the Danish Ambassador and the representative of Western governments, was thrown out of court.Mr Barlyng argued that he was permitted to observe by Ruhakana Rugunda, the Minister of Internal Affairs, but General Tumwine replied that the minister “does not control this court”.

Dr Besigye hopes to oppose Mr Museveni in next year’s elections, as he did in 2001. His supporters in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) claim that the trial is designed to prevent Dr Besigye from being eligible to stand.

Salaamu Musumba, the FDC vice-president, called on Commonwealth governments to take action against Kampala. “Uganda should be thrown out of the Commonwealth as there are no Commonwealth traditions that we are emulating in this country,” she said.

Liam Fox, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, last night added his voice to calls for Dr Besigye to be released immediately. “Tony Blair and Jack Straw must urgently press the Ugandan Government to respect democracy and the rule of law,” he said. “Nobody should be under any illusions about the seriousness of the situation in Uganda.”

In Kampala, the court- martial proceedings were adjourned until this morning. As Dr Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, left the court she called out: “Kizza Besigye is going to be condemned to death by a kangaroo court.”

An armed escort then took Dr Besigye to the High Court for his delayed bail hearing. A crowd that had gathered outside the court martial cheered Dr Besigye and waved his party’s two-fingered salute as the prison bus attempted a three-point turn in the narrow road. Central Kampala was cordoned off by police, who had expected another day of mass rioting by opposition supporters. However, people heeded the warning given on Wednesday by Mr Rugunda not to take to the streets. Media outlets have been threatened with closure if they discuss Dr Besigye’s arrest and trial.

At the High Court Judge James Ogoola adjourned the bail hearing until this afternoon to allow the court martial to proceed. He managed to restore some faith in the impartiality of the judiciary when he banned members of the armed forces from his courtroom.

Dr Besigye can face a court martial under a law allowing those accused of taking up arms against the state to be charged in a military court. Dr Besigye, a former Museveni loyalist, is also a retired colonel in the Ugandan army. The return of Dr Besigye from exile last month was seen as a sign of greater democracy in Uganda, which is preparing for its first multiparty elections in March.

MUSEVENI'S TARNISHED IMAGE

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