Besigye revealed that he hasn’t even briefed his lawyers since the incident, earlier reported as an abduction.
Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has revealed that he has not established contact with anyone since he was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, November 20, in Uganda at a location where he is being held, Besigye revealed that he hasn’t even briefed his lawyers since the incident, earlier reported as an abduction.
“I have not been in contact with any person since I was arrested in Nairobi, so I could not have any brief with any lawyers. I will be having my own lawyers, but I haven’t briefed them,” Besigye remarked.
Video courtesy of NTV Uganda:
Dr Kizza Besigye says he hasn’t spoken to anyone since his arrest in Kenya, including his lawyers. #NTVNews
Watch NTV Live – https://t.co/okyZktKhNy or watch us on YOTV Channels pic.twitter.com/ibHUuy55s6
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) November 20, 2024
Meanwhile, NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua on Wednesday, November 20 uncovered details surrounding the last moments before Besigye was abducted in Kenyan territory.
In a press statement by the Pan African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network, Karua confirmed that Besigye was invited to attend the launch of her book Against the Tide on Sunday, November 17, but was a no-show.
“Besigye was scheduled to attend and speak at Martha Karua’s book launch on Sunday, November 17 where he was a no-show. His family and friends have not been able to trace him since he was dropped at riverside apartments and calls on his phone have gone unanswered,” read the statement in part.
The statement further revealed that Besigye checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel on Saturday and later left with a taxi driver to attend a meeting at 108 Riverside Apartments on Sunday, upon which his taxi driver waited for him until 4 am when he gave up having received no response to his several messages.
It was suspected that Besigye may have been abducted after he was dropped at the premises. Karua, in a separate interview, revealed that they received distressed calls from Besigye’s supporters who were inquiring about the safety of their leader.
Aides to Besigye said he was scheduled to meet senior Ugandan officials before his disappearance.
The Pan-African opposition leaders challenged the Kenyan security agencies, especially the Nation Police Service (NPS) to account for Bessigye’s abduction while on Kenyan soil.
“We hold both the Governments of Kenya and Uganda responsible for the safety and whereabouts of Besigye and challenge them to conduct their cross-border operations in accordance with their respective laws and international Human rights law,” the Network demanded, further strongly condemning the incident, terming the abductions as blatant violations of national, regional and international law with impunity.
“Why would governments connive to abduct their citizens across the borders when they have the opportunity to make a formal arrest at home, if unless it is as we suspect, they have no justifiable reasons for doing so? We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Dr Besigye by his captors who we believe are Kenyan and Ugandan security agencies and an end.”
The Ugandan government had however denied involvement in the abduction and that the state was trying to establish his whereabouts.
Besigye and his associate Haji Obeid Rutale were charged at Makindye General Military Court Martial in Kampala with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition after they were arrested in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Consequently, Besigye and his aide will remain in custody until December 2, 2024, as the investigations into the case continue. Besigye and Rutale are accused of holding meetings outside the country to secure funding aimed at destabilizing their home country’s security.
