Human rights defenders in Nairobi are threatening to take to the streets next Monday to demand the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
The activists are protesting what they describe as Besigye’s abduction on Kenyan soil in November 2024 and are calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his transfer to Uganda.
Besigye was abducted in Nairobi in November 2024 and later resurfaced in Uganda, where he was initially arraigned before a military court. His case was subsequently transferred to a civilian court, where he faces charges including treason and misprision of treason.
The activists have also raised concerns over what they describe as growing political repression targeting opposition figures and human rights defenders across the East African region. They are demanding accountability from security agencies allegedly implicated in such cases.
The planned protest comes a day after Uganda’s High Court heard evidence linking Besigye’s case to alleged meetings and activities in Kenya, including Nairobi and Kisumu.
Besigye is jointly charged with his aide, Hajji Obeid Lutale, and Uganda People’s Defence Forces officer Captain Denis Oola, also known as Denis Oola Ooya. The three have denied the allegations.
Prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2024, Besigye, Lutale and Captain Oola participated in meetings in Uganda, Kenya, Greece and Switzerland as part of an alleged plan to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government by force of arms.
The prosecution has presented recordings allegedly captured during meetings involving Besigye and his associates.
Court heard that the Ugandan government spent KSh59.32 million to have some of the recordings transcribed into written evidence.
The recordings, lasting two hours, 29 minutes and three seconds, were contained on a flash disk submitted by Uganda’s Criminal Investigations Directorate.
Prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale and Captain Oola participated in meetings in Uganda and abroad to raise funds, acquire weapons and organise activities aimed at overthrowing the government.
Treason is a capital offence under Ugandan law and carries a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.