The famous Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has spoken for the first time days after his wife posted that he had been kidnapped in Nairobi on November 16, and detained at the military jail in Uganda.
Kizza was to attend the launching of the book by Martha Karua where he was the key speaker but the family got concerned when he failed to appear with no calls and messages.
“I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala. We demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?” his wife Byanyima, who is the executive director of UNAIDS, questioned.
“I have been in isolation since I was arrested. I was only informed that I was coming to court a few minutes ago. I have not been in contact with any person since we were arrested from Nairobi. So I could not have attended a brief with the lawyers.” Kizza said.
When he was asked about government-provided lawyers he confirmed that he will have his own lawyers, even though he had not briefed them.
Dr. Kizza is believed to have been arrested on the night of November 16, after being dropped off at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi for a meeting. His driver is said to have waited for him for over 10 hours in vain.
The opposition coalition in Africa; The Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network has accused Kenyan and Ugandan security agencies of orchestrating the alleged abduction which they termed it as violation of human rights and international law.
“We suspect that Dr Besigye may have been abducted after he was dropped at Riverside Apartments, most likely by Ugandan authorities working in cahoots with and facilitated by Kenyan authorities,” the network stated.
The network has demanded the unconditional release of Dr Kizza and accountability the two countries wondering why would governments connive to abduct their citizens across borders when they can actually arrest him at home
The Kenyan Government through Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Sing’oei Korir said Kenya had no role in Kizza’s alleged arrest or deportation.
“There is no reason whatsoever for Kenya to be a party in his arrest, if any,” Korir said on Wednesday,
According to AP News, Kizza has been charged with possession of an illegal firearm and soliciting military support in Geneva, Greece and Nairobi to prejudice security of defense forces.
The LSK president Faith Odhiambo stated that the incident compromised democratic principles and it was a direct assault on the freedoms that define a democratic society. She urged the international community to intervene immediately.
