**James Orengo Demands Probe into Alleged Abduction of Ugandan Opposition Leader Kizza Besigye**
Kenyan Senior Counsel James Orengo has called for an immediate investigation into the reported abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, holding the Kenyan government accountable for the incident.
Reports indicate that Besigye was forcibly taken from an apartment in Nairobi and transported to Uganda, where he was presented before a court martial on Wednesday.
Orengo condemned the alleged abduction and urged the Kenyan government to demand Besigye's immediate release until the full details of the incident are clarified. He emphasized that Besigye was lawfully in Nairobi, making his detention a violation of Kenyan and international law.
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“Mr. Besigye did not come to Kenya as a fugitive. The most alarming aspect of this incident is the involvement of elements from Kenya’s security organs. If this is not the case, it raises serious questions about the competence and authority of our security agencies,” said Orengo.
He further stated, “The Kenyan government must demand Besigye’s release and ensure that due process is followed, as there are legal frameworks that should be respected in adherence to the rule of law and democratic principles.”
Videos circulating online showed Besigye being escorted under tight security by armed officers as he exited a military vehicle in Uganda. He was charged at the General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala, with allegations including organizing meetings to solicit support and identify military targets to compromise the security of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
The charge sheet also accused Besigye and his co-accused, Haji Obeid Lutale, of unlawful possession of firearms. It stated that on November 16, 2024, at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, they were found with pistols ordinarily restricted to military use. The offences allegedly took place between October 2023 and November 2024 in Geneva (Switzerland), Athens (Greece), and Nairobi.
Orengo’s remarks have sparked widespread calls for transparency and accountability regarding Besigye’s abduction and the involvement of Kenyan authorities.
