An Australian cardiologist and potential Ugandan presidential candidate accused in his home country of murder and terrorism says the allegations are utterly false.
Dr Aggrey Kiyingi, who has a practice in Merrylands in Sydney's west, says the charges are part of a campaign orchestrated by President Yoweri Museveni to quash his 2016 bid to succeed him.
He has been charged by a Ugandan district court along with 23 others with terrorism, aggravated robbery and murdering seven people in eastern region of Busoga.
"It's concocted. There's not even an iota of truth in them," Dr Kiyingi told AAP on Saturday.
"(President Yoweri Museveni) is scared. He will do anything possible to stop me.
According to prosecutors, Dr Kiyingi and his co-accused murdered four Muslim clerics, two policemen and a local leader. They are further charged with attempting to murder three others.
The leader of the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group, Jamil Mukulu, has also been charged in absentia.
ADF rebels led by Mukulu were very active during 1990s in eastern Uganda where they killed many people. Later they were defeated and fled to the jungles in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they remain.
Ugandan authorities have also accused Dr Kiyingi of funding the ADF, a claim he also denies.
Prosecutor Grace Nabagala has asked for an adjournment, telling the court, "the investigations into the matter are not yet complete, but are going on well".
She has also requested a summons be issued for the arrest of Dr Kiyingi and Mukulu.
Dr Kiyingi, who condemned the murders, said the charges would not stop him from running for president, and said his supports have been harassed and tortured by security personnel.
"There comes a time when one has to stand up," he said.
"I am not giving up this fight."
Uganda's police chief, General Kale Kayihura, has said the government might seek help from Interpol to apprehend Dr Kiyingi in Sydney over his alleged involvement in rebel activities.
Dr Kiyingi, who said he only learned of the charges when contacted by a supporter in Uganda some days ago, has had no official contact from the Ugandan or Australian governments.
