Kampala, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | Prominent Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has appeared before a military court in Kampala, where he denied charges related to illegal possession of firearms and alleged negotiations to acquire weapons abroad.
This court appearance followed allegations from his wife, Winnie Byanyima, that Besigye had been abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, last Saturday and forcibly returned to Uganda, where he was held in a military detention facility.
Byanyima, a respected human rights advocate and UNAids executive director, revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that her 68-year-old husband was seized during a book launch in Nairobi. She called for his immediate release, questioning the legality of his detention in a military jail.
Besigye and his co-accused, opposition figure Obedi Lutale, both denied the charges presented during the hearing. The charges include the alleged possession of two pistols and ammunition in a Nairobi hotel and attempts to negotiate for arms in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi.
During his appearance at the Makindye military court, Besigye criticized the jurisdiction of the court martial, arguing that he should be tried in a civilian court. His objections were dismissed, and the hearing proceeded under heightened security. The court ruled that he would remain in custody until December 2.
A former personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye later became a fierce critic of the Ugandan leader, accusing him of dictatorship. Besigye has run unsuccessfully against Museveni in four presidential elections, which he claims were marred by vote rigging—a charge the government denies. Over the years, he has faced repeated arrests and accusations of inciting violence.
The circumstances surrounding his recent detention have caused concern among human rights organizations, particularly in Kenya, where activists have criticized the increasing trend of forced deportations.
The Kenyan National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC) and the Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network condemned Besigye’s alleged abduction and the collaboration between Kenyan and Ugandan authorities.
Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, a political ally of Besigye, has demanded an official response from the Kenyan government regarding the incident. These developments have intensified scrutiny over Kenya’s role in the matter and its reputation as a safe haven for political refugees.
“The manner and circumstances surrounding his arrest are really disturbing to us… [it] is shrouded in mystery. The government of Kenya owes us an explanation,” he said.
Kenyan government officials have denied knowledge of Kizza Besigye’s alleged abduction in Nairobi, following claims by his wife, Winnie Byanyima, that the prominent Ugandan opposition leader was forcibly taken and returned to Uganda.
Speaking to the BBC, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura stated he was unaware of any such incident. Similarly, Korir Sing’oei, the principal secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he had not been informed of Besigye’s presence in the country.
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“Kizza Besigye visits Kenya many times, he is a leader who has friends, family here… [but] he didn’t tell us that he was coming to Kenya as the foreign affairs ministry, or that he needed any facilitation. We understand him, we value him and we hope that his situation can be resolved by the neighbouring country,” Sing’oei remarked.
Besigye, who did not contest Uganda’s 2021 presidential election, has been relatively inactive in politics over the past few years. In April, he told his supporters he had taken a political break.
However, he recently announced plans to re-engage politically, focusing on resolving internal divisions within his party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), which has split into two factions. He expressed his intention to retire at 70 but vowed to work tirelessly in the interim to assist Ugandans and address the “chaos” in his party.
