Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader, is expected to face a military court in Kampala on Wednesday, following his alleged abduction in Nairobi, Kenya, over the weekend. His lawyer, Erias Lukwago, confirmed the development, stating that military sources indicated Besigye was being held in military cells.
"We have yet to determine the charges against him," Lukwago said, adding that this is not the first time Besigye has been subjected to military court proceedings despite being a retired army officer and now a civilian.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAIDS, revealed on X that her husband was "kidnapped" while attending a book launch by Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua. Byanyima expressed frustration and demanded access to her 68-year-old husband, saying, "We, his family and lawyers, demand to see him."
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Ugandan authorities, however, are yet to confirm Besigye's whereabouts. Government spokesman Chris Baryomunsi stated, "We are cross-checking reports and liaising with security agencies in Uganda and Kenya to ascertain his status."
This incident adds to Uganda's increasing crackdown on political opposition. In recent months, prominent opposition leaders and party members have faced arrests and legal battles. Besigye himself has been a persistent critic of President Yoweri Museveni, having unsuccessfully contested against him in presidential elections since 2001.
In July, 36 members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the party Besigye founded, were deported from Kenya to Uganda and charged with terrorism. Although they were released on bail last month, Besigye accused the government of illegally detaining and smuggling them back from Kenya.
Prominent opposition figure Bobi Wine decried the situation, saying, "It is shocking that Kenya, once a haven for Ugandan dissidents, is now becoming complicit in Uganda’s oppressive actions."
Besigye recently formed the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) after breaking away from the FDC earlier this year. His colleague Phillip Wafula Oguttu labeled the situation as a "confirmed case of abduction," adding, "We hope he is safe wherever he is."
The fraught relationship between Besigye and Museveni dates back to their alliance during the bush war that ousted Milton Obote. Once Museveni’s trusted personal physician, Besigye broke ranks with the ruling National Resistance Movement in 2001 to challenge Museveni's leadership. Their rivalry has since deepened, fueled by Museveni’s alleged plans to groom his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as his successor.
Besigye's arrest has also reignited concerns over Kenya’s involvement in forced repatriations. Last month, Kenya deported four Turkish refugees under contentious circumstances, adding to a history of similar incidents, including the 1999 abduction of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan by Turkish agents in Nairobi.
