Veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye is reportedly missing amid allegations that he was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, and transported back to Uganda, where he is said to be held in a military facility.
The claims were made by Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife and the Executive Director of UNAIDS, in a post on her X account.
Byanyima expressed alarm over her husband’s safety and demanded his immediate release.
“I request the Government 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,” Byanyima wrote.
She further questioned the legality of detaining a civilian in a military facility.
“We, his family and his lawyers, demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”
Government Response
When contacted for comment, Minister for Information and Technology, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, said he was unaware of Besigye’s alleged arrest and detention.
“I have also seen an X post from Madam Winnie Byanyima and received calls from the media. I am trying to cross-check with our security and intelligence agencies. For now, I can’t confirm or deny whether Dr. Kizza Besigye is being held,” Baryomunsi stated.
He added, “Let’s give it time as I cross-check. In any case, why would Dr. Kizza Besigye be arrested? If he is arrested, it would mean there is a reason or charge, and he would be produced in courts of law.”
Baryomunsi also suggested the possibility of a communication lapse.
“It could be possible that Dr. Kizza Besigye has failed to communicate with his family. We are cross-checking with authorities in Kenya because the reports say he was in Kenya on Saturday.”
Background
Dr. Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate and a long-standing critic of President Museveni, has faced numerous arrests and detentions over his political activism. His alleged disappearance occurred following his attendance at the book launch of Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua in Nairobi.
As of now, neither Uganda’s security agencies nor Kenyan authorities have confirmed Besigye’s whereabouts or the claims of his detention in a military facility.
Conclusion
The allegations surrounding Dr. Kizza Besigye’s arrest and detention remain unresolved, with his family and supporters demanding answers. As investigations continue, questions linger over his safety and the implications for political dissent in Uganda.