Controversial businessman and socialite Don Nasser has suffered a legal blow after the High Court in Kampala dismissed his human rights application, allowing his high-profile trial on aggravated child trafficking and defilement charges to proceed.
Presiding over the case on Thursday, Justice Andrew Bashaija of the International Crimes Division ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to handle Nasser’s claims of torture and abduction, which allegedly occurred outside Uganda’s borders.
“This court, under the Constitution and the Penal Code, cannot exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction in this matter,” Justice Bashaija stated.
Nasser, whose real name is Nduhukire Nasser, had petitioned the court to halt his prosecution, claiming he was abducted from Nairobi, Kenya by Ugandan security agents on September 18, 2024. He alleged he was blindfolded, assaulted, denied food, and locked in a shipping container for three days before being unlawfully transported back to Uganda.
In his affidavit, Nasser described the ordeal as a violation of his fundamental human rights, saying no legal extradition process was followed.
However, the Attorney General’s office strongly disputed the account. Key witness Detective Edward Musasizi told court that Nasser was arrested lawfully in Tororo District, eastern Uganda.
“There was no abduction, no torture. The applicant was walking freely and was arrested in accordance with the law,” Musasizi testified.
Justice Bashaija emphasized that Nasser’s claims were based solely on affidavit evidence without any independent verification.
“Allegations of international law violations require corroborated evidence. Affidavits alone are insufficient,” he noted.
The judge also questioned why the claims were not raised earlier during Nasser’s first court appearances.
“There is no legal basis for this court to investigate events alleged to have occurred in Kenya,” he added.
In his final decision, Justice Bashaija dismissed the application with costs, declaring:
“The application lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.”
With the legal hurdle removed, the criminal proceedings against Don Nasser will now continue, keeping the public eye on one of the country’s most controversial legal battles.