Ugandan opposition leader kidnapped and detained in Kampala

A prominent Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, has been kidnapped during a book launch in Kenya. According to his wife, Winnie Byanyima, he has been taken to Uganda and is now being held in a military jail in Kampala.

Besigye has a long history of challenging Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. He ran against Museveni in four elections but lost each time. Besigye has always claimed the results were unfair, accusing the government of fraud and voter intimidation. Over the years, he has been arrested many times for his political activities.

Byanyima, who is also the executive director of UNAIDS, is calling for her husband's immediate release. She made a statement on Wednesday, saying, "I request the government of Uganda to release my husband Dr. Kizza Besigye from where he is being held immediately."

Ugandan police and military have not confirmed his detention. A police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke, told reporters, "As police, we don't have him, so we can't comment." Kenyan police have also remained silent on the matter.

Besigye was taken on Saturday during a book launch in Kenya. The event was organized by Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua. Byanyima shared the news on social media, stating she had received reliable information that Besigye is now in a military jail in Kampala.

She questioned why her husband is being held by the military, saying, "He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?"

I request the govt of Uganda to release my husband Dr Kizza Besigye from where he is being held immediately.

He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Hon Martha Karua’s book launch. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala.
We his…

— Winnie Byanyima (@Winnie_Byanyima) November 19, 2024

This is not the first time the Ugandan government has been accused of targeting opposition leaders. In July, Kenyan authorities detained 36 members of Besigye’s political party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). These individuals were deported to Uganda and charged with terrorism-related crimes.

Museveni’s government has often faced accusations of human rights abuses, including illegal detentions, torture, and even extra-judicial killings. Officials have consistently denied these claims, insisting that all arrests are legal and suspects are treated fairly by the courts.

Kizza Besigye was once a close ally of President Museveni. He even served as Museveni's doctor during Uganda’s guerrilla war. However, he later became one of the president’s most vocal critics, challenging the government on its policies and treatment of the opposition.

Besigye's arrest has sparked international concern, with many questioning the Ugandan government’s actions. His family and lawyers are demanding to see him, as his detention in a military facility is both unusual and troubling.

So far, no official statement has been made by the Ugandan military or police regarding Besigye’s detention. Kenyan authorities have also declined to comment on the circumstances of his kidnapping.

Byanyima continues to fight for her husband’s release, using her platform to bring attention to his case. "We, his family and his lawyers, demand to see him," she wrote online.