Uganda’s ICT Minister, Chris Baryomunsi, has accused Kenya of complicity in the controversial abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
Speaking to NBS Television on Friday, November 22, Baryomunsi stated that the operation, which saw Besigye whisked from Nairobi to Uganda, could not have occurred without Kenya’s involvement.
“How do you arrest someone in Nairobi and then transport them back to Uganda without Kenya’s full knowledge?”
Uganda Opposition leader Dr. Kizze Besigye gestures during a past media presser. Photo: CNN
Baryomunsi questioned, igniting fierce debate about Nairobi’s role. His claims come days after Kenya denied any involvement in the incident, describing it as an “abduction.”
Besigye, a staunch critic of President Yoweri Museveni, disappeared in Nairobi after being dropped off at a residential complex.
He later resurfaced in Uganda, where he now faces charges of illegal possession of firearms in a military court.
Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, has dismissed the charges as baseless, asserting that he has not owned a firearm in over 20 years.
The incident has placed Kenya under an international spotlight.
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TOPSHOT – Uganda’s veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye gestures as he arrives at the Makindye Martial Court in Kampala, on November 20, 2024. Leading Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye appeared in a military court in Kampala on November 20, 2024 after his reported abduction in neighbouring Kenya. (Photo by Badru Katumba / AFP) (Photo by BADRU KATUMBA/AFP via Getty Images)
Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei refuted allegations of government involvement, labeling the event an independent operation.
However, Uganda’s government spokesperson countered, asserting that such renditions require host country cooperation.
The saga has sparked global condemnation. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk demanded Besigye’s immediate release and an end to Uganda’s use of military courts for civilian trials.
U.S. Senator James Risch also questioned Kenya’s role, calling for transparency from both governments.
As the controversy deepens, critics have drawn parallels to past renditions in East Africa, spotlighting concerns over cross-border operations and the erosion of civil liberties.
