(Nairobi) – Kenya’s government is investigating the mysterious disappearance of prominent Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Nairobi, followed by his reappearance in a Ugandan military court. The case has drawn criticism of Kenya’s record on protecting foreign dissidents and stirred concerns over international legal norms.
Besigye, a fou -time presidential candidate and outspoken critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, vanished from Nairobi on Saturday. He resurfaced in Uganda on Wednesday, where he faced charges, including illegal possession of firearms.
Korir Sing’oei, principal secretary at Kenya’s foreign ministry, described the event as an “abduction” but denied government involvement. He confirmed that the Kenyan interior ministry is investigating how Besigye was allegedly removed from Kenyan soil against his will.
Ugandan authorities, however, refuted claims of abduction. A government spokesperson said any arrests outside Uganda would have been conducted in collaboration with host countries.
The charge sheet presented at the Ugandan military court alleges that Besigye possessed a pistol and ammunition in Nairobi’s Riverside neighborhood. Ugandan prosecutors claim he sought support to undermine Uganda’s military. Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, disputed these allegations, insisting he has not owned a firearm in two decades.
Key Details of the Allegations
Date of Disappearance
Location in Nairobi
Charges in Uganda
November 16, 2024
Riverside neighborhood
Illegal firearm possession
Byanyima, who is the Executive Director of UNAIDS, criticized Besigye’s trial in a military court. “As a civilian, Dr. Besigye should be tried in a civilian court, NOT a military court,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The case has reignited scrutiny of Kenya’s human rights record. In July, Kenyan authorities deported 36 members of Besigye’s political party to Uganda, where they faced terrorism charges. Last month, Kenya deported four Turkish refugees to Turkey, drawing sharp criticism from the United Nations.
U.S. Senator James Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern on X, stating the incident raises “serious questions about important U.S. partners violating international norms.”
Besigye, a former ally of Museveni during Uganda’s 1980s guerrilla war, has long accused the president of suppressing dissent. He has run against Museveni in four elections, rejecting the results each time as fraudulent. His recent trip to Nairobi was reportedly to attend a book launch, according to Byanyima.
The International Commission of Jurists called Besigye’s cross border transfer a reminder of a dark period in East Africa’s history when state sponsored abductions were common.
