Besigye and Lukwago Criticize Kenya and Uganda Over FDC Activists’ Arrest and Deportation
Kizza Besigye, a founding member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has strongly condemned the Ugandan government’s handling of 36 FDC activists who were recently detained in Kenya. Besigye describes the actions of the Ugandan authorities as “shameless” and “rogue,” alleging that the activists were charged with terrorism upon their return to Uganda after being illegally detained and deported from Kenya.
According to Ugandan authorities, the 36 activists were in Kenya to receive terrorism training. Besigye disputes this claim, arguing that if the authorities were indeed monitoring the group, they should have allowed the supposed training to proceed in order to gather evidence. He criticizes the Ugandan legal system for charging the activists with terrorism as a way to prolong their detention and prevent them from obtaining bail. Besigye contends that this charge is an extension of the physical and psychological abuse the activists have already endured.
Besigye also highlighted his own experiences with similar charges, noting that he has been accused of terrorism, treason, and other serious offenses in the past, often without substantial evidence. He asserts that the current charges against the FDC activists are part of a broader pattern of judicial abuse and political repression in Uganda.
In addition, Erias Lukwago, an FDC leader, has expressed his appreciation for Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyong’o’s strong stance against the mistreatment of the FDC members. Lukwago thanked Governor Nyong’o for his clear condemnation of the inhumane treatment and criticized Kenyan authorities for their role in the incident. Nyong’o had previously criticized Kenyan officials for participating in the rough treatment of the activists without verifying the claims made by the Ugandan authorities. According to Lukwago, this lack of due diligence led to the violent kidnapping of the activists from a legitimate training session in Kisumu.
