Ugandan Opposition Figure Kizza Besigye Kidnapped During Visit to Kenya, Wife Says
Winnie Byanyima, the wife of prominent Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, has issued an emotional plea after her husband’s mysterious disappearance during a visit to Nairobi, Kenya.
Byanyima, a distinguished advocate for human rights and executive leader, shared the distressing news through her X account on Sunday, November 19.
“He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Hon Martha Karua’s book launch. I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” she revealed.
Besigye, a staunch critic of President Yoweri Museveni’s regime and a former presidential candidate, had traveled to Nairobi to attend the launch of Karua’s book, which celebrates her storied career in politics and law. His disappearance sparked shockwaves across the region, with many questioning the safety of political figures critical of their governments.
Byanyima further alleged that her husband had been taken to a Ugandan military facility, intensifying fears about his safety and the legality of his detention. “I request the govt of Uganda to release my husband Dr Kizza Besigye from where he is being held immediately,” she demanded.
Expressing deep concern, Byanyima decried the treatment of her husband, noting that Besigye is a civilian and should not be subjected to military detention. “We his family and his lawyers demand to see him. He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?” she asked pointedly.
Human rights organizations and political figures have started to weigh in, calling for transparency and Besigye’s immediate release. The incident highlights a broader conversation about the safety and freedom of political dissenters in East Africa.
As calls for Besigye’s release grow louder, the Ugandan government has yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Meanwhile, Byanyima’s determined plea has amplified global attention to the plight of one of Uganda’s most outspoken opposition figures.
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Ugandan Opposition Figure Kizza Besigye Kidnapped During Visit to Kenya, Wife Says
