Misleading Title: Kizza Besigye wasn’t freed from prison; his case was transferred to the High Court.
The misleading video title states: Besigye Walks Free! Case terminated in court shocker
The title is not accurate but a tactic to gain more views on YouTube, but it misleads
Context: Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Obed Lutale are facing treason charges levied against them by the Ugandan state, where they are being accused of trying to overthrow the government through a military uprising. As part of their ongoing trial, they were brought to Nakawa Magistrate Court on Thursday, 26th June, for a ruling on an application by the State to have access to data on their mobile phones.
Fact-check: Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege ruled that she no longer had jurisdiction over the case and thus committed it to the High Court.
Verdict: Video title is misleading. It is not true that Kizza Besigye has been freed from prison, as the title states. His case was transferred to the High Court, and he will remain in Luzira prison custody as he awaits his next court date at the High Court.
Break down
A YouTube video posted by Soft Focus Media Television claims that opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye has “walked free” and that his case was “terminated in court” in what the uploader described as a “shocker”.
The title of the video “Besigye Walks Free! Case terminated in court shocker” suggests that Dr Besigye has been released from prison and that his treason charges have been dropped.
This is misleading.
What actually happened?
On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Dr Besigye and his co-accused, Obed Lutale, appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court. The session was part of an ongoing treason case where the duo is accused of attempting to overthrow the Ugandan government through alleged military means.
During the hearing, Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege ruled that her court no longer had jurisdiction over the matter and committed the case to the High Court, as usually is the case with. standard legal procedure for capital offences like treason like those levied against Robert Kyagulanyi in 2018 and was granted by the High Court in Gulu.
There was no dismissal of charges, and no ruling on bail was made. Importantly, no part of the ruling indicated that Dr Besigye had been released.
Celebration erupts in Nakawa Court as supporters of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Hajji Obeid Lutale cheer a ruling by Chief Magistrate Christine Nantege, who declared the court no longer has jurisdiction after the case was committed to the High Court. #NTVNews
📹 @lbrahim_kavuma pic.twitter.com/VSd9Oghzbm
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) June 26, 2025
As a result, Dr Besigye remains in custody at Luzira Prison as he awaits a hearing before the High Court. There is no legal basis for the claim that he has “walked free”, and no evidence that the case was “terminated”.
Why this matters
Clickbait headlines like this one are not only misleading but also dangerous. They distort public understanding of serious legal processes and can spread misinformation quickly, especially when they involve high-profile political figures.
Verdict: Misleading. Kizza Besigye has not been freed. The case has simply been transferred to the High Court, and he remains in prison custody awaiting further proceedings.
