KEY POINTS
- Kenya probes Ugandan opposition leader Besigye’s alleged abduction and transfer.
- Uganda charges Besigye with illegal firearm possession amid denials of wrongdoing.
- Critics condemn Kenya’s record on protecting dissidents and human rights.
Kenya’s government has launched an investigation into how Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition figure, was allegedly abducted in Nairobi and transferred to Uganda. The incident has drawn sharp criticism of Kenya’s commitment to protecting foreign dissidents on its soil.
Besigye, a vocal critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and a four-time presidential candidate, went missing from Nairobi on Saturday. He reappeared on Wednesday in Uganda, where he was charged in a military court with illegal possession of firearms.
According to Ugandan authorities, Besigye was found with a pistol and ammunition in Nairobi’s Riverside neighborhood. They alleged he was there seeking support to undermine Uganda’s military.
However, Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, rejected the allegations. She emphasized that Besigye has not owned a firearm in two decades and called for his trial to be moved to a civilian court.
Kenya denies involvement, promises inquiry
Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s foreign ministry principal secretary, described the incident as an abduction and denied any involvement by the Kenyan government. He confirmed that the interior ministry is conducting a probe into how Besigye was transferred to Uganda.
Uganda’s government denied engaging in abductions, asserting that any cross-border arrests are conducted in coordination with host countries.
Widespread condemnation
According to a report by Reuters, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the abduction, calling for Besigye’s immediate release and criticizing Uganda’s use of military courts to prosecute civilians. The International Commission of Jurists likened the incident to past state-sponsored renditions in East Africa.
The affair has also renewed scrutiny of Kenya’s recent actions regarding dissidents. In July, 36 Ugandan opposition members were deported from Kenya and charged with terrorism in Uganda. Last month, Kenya deported four Turkish refugees to Ankara, prompting criticism from the U.N.
James Risch, a senior U.S. senator, voiced concerns over Kenya’s adherence to international norms, highlighting Besigye’s case as a troubling development.
Besigye, once Museveni’s personal physician during Uganda’s 1980s guerrilla war, had traveled to Kenya for a book launch. His wife and supporters view his abduction as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in East Africa.
