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Besigye dismissed claims of being found with firearms, questioning why Kenyan authorities did not charge him if the weapons were allegedly in their jurisdiction
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By Our Reporter
The Kenyan government has distanced itself from the arrest of former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Dr. Kizza Besigye, terming the incident an abduction. Speaking on the matter, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Korir Sing'Oei stated that investigations into Besigye’s forceful removal from a Nairobi apartment and transfer to Uganda are underway. “This was not an act by the Kenyan government or its security agencies,” Sing’Oei said during an appearance on Citizen TV. He added that Kenya’s Interior Ministry was probing the circumstances surrounding Besigye's abduction. The statement comes amid condemnation from activists, international organizations, and the Law Society of Kenya, who are demanding clarity on the rising cases of foreign nationals being abducted in Kenya.
Kenya Was in the Dark
Sing’Oei emphasized that Kenya had no prior knowledge of Besigye’s visit. “Besigye is a frequent visitor to Kenya, but his most recent trip was not communicated to us. He neither informed us of his presence nor requested security facilitation,” he explained. Besigye, 67, was arrested alongside his aide Haji Obeid Lutale and later charged at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala. The charges include unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as conspiring with collaborators in Kenya, Switzerland, and Greece to destabilize Uganda.
Opposition reacts
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, refuted the firearm charges, asserting her husband hasn’t owned a gun in over 20 years. "As a civilian, Besigye should be tried in a civilian court, not a military one," Byanyima stated on X (formerly Twitter). The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) also weighed in, with chairperson Mariam Wangadya urging the government to drop the charges. "Offenses committed on foreign soil must be prosecuted in the respective country. The charges are fundamentally flawed and should be dismissed," she said.
FDC Najjanankumbi faction president Patrick Amuriat condemned Besigye’s abduction and deportation, calling it a violation of international law. “This act undermines Kenya’s sovereignty and regional stability. Uganda’s misuse of military courts against opposition figures is a calculated effort to stifle dissent,” Amuriat noted.
Besigye’s account
From Luzira Prison, Besigye recounted his ordeal to colleagues, including Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda. He described being forcibly removed from a Nairobi hotel meeting and driven to Uganda in vehicles with Kenyan license plates.
“They drove us to the Malaba border without passing through immigration. We were then transferred to a Ugandan vehicle and taken to Makindye Military Barracks,” Ssemujju narrated, quoting Besigye.
Besigye dismissed claims of being found with firearms, questioning why Kenyan authorities did not charge him if the weapons were allegedly in their jurisdiction. "If they truly found guns with us in Kenya, it should have been Kenya prosecuting us, not Uganda," Besigye reportedly said.
Background and related cases
Besigye’s arrest follows the earlier detention of 36 members of the FDC Katonga faction in July. The group, arrested in Kisumu, Kenya, and later extradited to Uganda, was accused of receiving or providing terrorism training. They were subsequently granted bail after appearing in the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court.
Ssemujju revealed that Besigye was in Kenya for the launch of a book authored by Martha Karua, leader of Kenya’s National Rainbow Coalition party, before the abduction disrupted his plans.
Calls for action
The FDC Katonga group has pledged to petition the Kenyan Embassy in Kampala, the United Nations, and the East African Community over Besigye’s arrest and what they termed “blatant violations of regional and international law.”
“We must uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law,” Amuriat affirmed.
Torch Media Africa
