The Ugandan government has broken its silence on Kizza Besigye’s abduction in Nairobi, claiming it has no information about the opposition leader’s absence.
In an interview with Daily Monitor, a Ugandan media outlet, Uganda’s Minister of ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi stated that he was unaware of the abduction and that the state was investigating his whereabouts.
“I am currently in Soroti as part of President Museveni’s entourage,” Baryomunsi wondered.“ I am not aware that he is being held by the government. I’m still cross-checking with our security agencies. In any case, why would he be arrested?”
However, solid reports from Besigye’s associates indicate that the missing opposition leader was to be charged on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at a military court martial in Kampala.
Both Kenyan and Ugandan lawmakers have expressed concern about the disappearance.
The newest is activist Bobi Wine, formerly Robert Kyagulanyi, who decried the abduction as a violation of extradition laws.
The well-known activist revealed that 36 other activists were kidnapped in Nairobi and returned to Uganda a few months ago.
Wine remarked that the disturbing pattern of abductions of Ugandan people in Kenya is of the highest concern.
Nonetheless, the Ugandan government denied any wrongdoing and insisted on following extradition laws.
“The government is not in the habit of arresting citizens and keeping them incommunicado forever. If he (Besigye) is arrested he will be arraigned in court and charged accordingly,” Baryomunsi said.
“However, we are still cross-checking with our security agencies and colleagues in Kenya because we are told he had travelled there for a book launch before he disappeared,” he added.
According to Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, the politician went missing while in Nairobi for the presentation of Martha Karua’s biography, Against The Tide, on Saturday, November 16.
Besigye’s wife took to social media to ask the Ugandan government to release her husband immediately.
She also said that she had received good information that her spouse is now being held in a military jail in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.
Karua also urged Besigye’s release, urging Ugandan President Kaguta Museveni and Kenyan counterpart William Ruto to ‘come clean on his safety and whereabouts. Besigye had planned to visit Karua’s book launch in Nairobi before his abduction.
