Veteran Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye appeared before a military court in Kampala on Wednesday, facing accusations of compromising national security.
This follows his reported abduction in Nairobi over the weekend, an incident that has sparked widespread criticism and concerns over Kenya’s alleged complicity and Uganda’s intensified crackdown on dissent.
Besigye, 68, a retired army colonel and prominent critic of President Yoweri Museveni, was brought to the General Court Martial under heavy military guard.
He appeared alongside fellow opposition member Hajji Lutale Kamulegeya, who was also reportedly abducted in Nairobi.
Prosecutors allege the pair possessed two pistols and sought “logistical support in Uganda, Greece, and other countries to compromise national security,” according to Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago.
Lukwago stated that Besigye denied the charges and challenged the court’s authority to try him, arguing that he is a civilian.
Despite his objections, Besigye was remanded to Luzira Prison until December 2.
“I am a civilian and should not be tried in a military tribunal,” Besigye declared during the hearing.
Besigye, a former close ally of Museveni who served as his personal physician during the 1980s bush war, later became a fierce opponent.
He has contested presidential elections against Museveni four times since 2001, each time alleging widespread voter fraud and state harassment.
His wife, Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, took to social media to condemn his detention.
“My husband was kidnapped in Nairobi while attending a book launch hosted by opposition leader Martha Karua,” she wrote on X.
This incident has heightened concerns about Kenya’s role in the regional suppression of dissent.
Rights groups have condemned the apparent collusion, noting similar cases of forced repatriation.
Last month, Kenya admitted to deporting four Turkish refugees under questionable circumstances.
“This pattern of abductions from Kenyan soil is deeply troubling for East Africa,” said the Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network in a statement.
Bobi Wine, another Ugandan opposition leader, also criticized the actions, stating: “We condemn this blatant abuse of the law by Uganda’s regime and the complicity of Kenyan authorities.
This marks a return to the dark days when dissidents were abducted and tortured.”
Besigye recently left the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the party he founded two decades ago, to form the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
His co-accused, Kamulegeya, is also a member.
The arrests have further fueled fears among Uganda’s opposition about the growing influence of Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, a rising figure within the country’s military establishment.
Besigye’s political journey has been fraught with arrests, harassment, and accusations ranging from treason to rape charges widely regarded as politically motivated.
Despite these challenges, he remains a steadfast symbol of resistance against Museveni’s decades-long rule.
AFP
