Kidnapping of Dr. Kizza Besigye in Nairobi

Nairobi, Kenya – November 20, 2024: Dr. Kizza Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition figure, has allegedly been kidnapped in Nairobi and is now being held in a military jail in Kampala, Uganda, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima. The incident allegedly occurred last Saturday during a book launch event in Kenya’s capital.

Winnie Byanyima, a renowned human rights advocate and executive director of UNAIDS, announced the alarming news on X (formerly Twitter). “I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” she posted, demanding the immediate release of her husband. Byanyima emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We his family and his lawyers demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”

Dr. Besigye, 68, is a former leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party and has contested and lost four presidential elections against Uganda’s long-standing president, Yoweri Museveni. Museveni has been in power since 1986. Besigye, who once served as Museveni’s personal doctor, became a leading opposition figure and has repeatedly referred to the president as a “dictator,” claiming that previous elections were rigged—allegations consistently denied by the Ugandan government.

Over the years, Besigye has faced numerous arrests and has endured severe treatment, including being shot in the hand and suffering eye injuries from pepper spray. Authorities have accused him of inciting violence, charges which Besigye and his supporters deny.

The international community has expressed concern over Besigye’s alleged kidnapping. Martha Karua SC, a prominent Kenyan politician, took to X to demand clarity on Besigye’s whereabouts and safety. “Let @KagutaMuseveni and @WilliamsRuto come clean on the safety and whereabouts of @kizzabesigye1,” she wrote, tagging several international organizations, including the African Union, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the United Nations.

As the situation unfolds, Besigye’s supporters and human rights advocates are calling for transparency and accountability from both the Ugandan and Kenyan governments. The incident raises significant concerns about the treatment of political opposition figures in the region and the broader implications for human rights and democratic processes in East Africa.