Foreign Relations Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei denied government involvement, stating that Besigye’s travel details were not shared with authorities. “We were unaware of his whereabouts, including his accommodations, making it difficult to offer additional security,” Sing’oei clarified
Members of Parliament plan to summon Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to provide clarity on the abduction and extradition of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye. National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech announced that Mudavadi, who oversees the Foreign Relations and Interior dockets, will be called to explain the incident.
“We will invite the relevant leaders, including Musalia Mudavadi, to shed light on what happened. Every foreigner in our country is entitled to safety,” Koech said during a televised interview. The announcement comes as Foreign Relations Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei denied government involvement, stating that Besigye’s travel details were not shared with authorities. “We were unaware of his whereabouts, including his accommodations, making it difficult to offer additional security,” Sing’oei clarified.
International Outcry
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) condemned the abduction, terming it a violation of both domestic and international laws. They accused Kenyan authorities of either deliberate complicity or gross negligence, emphasizing the government’s constitutional duty to protect all individuals within its borders.
The incident, they argued, mirrors past cases of state-sponsored kidnappings and renditions, raising concerns about Kenya’s commitment to democracy and human rights. The groups cited other cases, including the forced rendition of Turkish nationals, the unresolved abduction of 36 Ugandans in Kisumu, and the killing of South Sudanese activists abducted in Kenya.
“If these trends continue, impunity will prevail, regional stability will be at risk, and Kenya’s standing as a beacon for democracy will be undermined,” they warned.
Besigye, alongside his associate Hajj Obeid Lutale, was abducted from Riverside Apartments in Nairobi on Saturday while attending a book launch by Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua. They were forcibly repatriated to Uganda via Wilson Airport and detained at Kampala’s Makindye Military Barracks. On Wednesday, Besigye was arraigned at the Makindye Court Martial and charged with unlawful possession of two pistols and ammunition, alleged to belong to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Prosecutors claimed the duo had participated in meetings across Nairobi, Athens, and Geneva to solicit support and identify targets to compromise Uganda’s security.
Speaking to the court, Besigye denied the charges, decried being held incommunicado, and rejected state legal representation, asserting he should be tried in a civilian court. Both accused pleaded not guilty and were remanded until December 2. This development adds to Kenya’s mounting concerns over cross-border abductions and human rights violations, intensifying calls for accountability and justice.
