Uganda is resuming court cases involving government critics, with trials expected to continue Tuesday as President Yoweri Museveni remains silent while his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, tightens control in an escalating crackdown.

Kizza Besigye, a veteran opposition leader, is set to appear in a Kampala court over long-standing treason charges. He has been held in detention since his abduction from Kenya in 2024, an incident that drew international criticism. Separately, Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago, is also facing a case after he was arrested earlier this month on orders attributed to Kainerugaba.

The move against Lukwago comes amid broader pressure on political and civic opponents. Amnesty International has warned that the treatment of Besigye and members of his legal team reflects a pattern of arbitrary detention and abuse.

In recent days, Kainerugaba has also ordered measures targeting independent media. At the weekend, he ordered the shutdown of outlets linked to Uganda’s leading independent media group, which publishes the Daily Monitor newspaper and operates NTV Uganda. Kainerugaba has framed the actions as tied to security investigations and has repeatedly attacked the idea of a free press.

Analysts say the crackdown reflects a shift in the balance of power, with Kainerugaba increasingly positioned as the dominant force in the country. Observers note his outspoken behavior on social media, including threats and inflammatory remarks toward critics, as well as statements suggesting he intends to succeed his father when Museveni leaves office.

Uganda’s opposition has faced setbacks in recent months, and many have been silenced or driven into exile. In that context, Besigye remains one of Museveni’s most prominent challengers, having run against him multiple times in previous elections. Meanwhile, his allies and rights groups have also come under scrutiny, including summons to police for allegations involving fraud and money laundering.