KENYA has publicly admitted that it played a role in the controversial abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye on its soil last year, marking a sharp U-turn in its previous denials. The development came as Besigye, a prominent critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, appeared in court on Wednesday for a fresh hearing in his ongoing treason trial.
Besigye, 68, was forcibly taken by armed men in November while in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Days later, he reappeared before a military tribunal in Uganda, sparking outrage from human rights groups and raising serious questions about cross-border political repression in East Africa.
Mudavadi confirms cooperation with Uganda
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV late Tuesday, Kenya’s Foreign Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed Nairobi’s collaboration with Kampala.
‘Kenya cooperated with the Ugandan authorities,’ Mudavadi said, justifying the action by describing Uganda as a ‘friendly nation’. He further stated that Besigye had not requested asylum, suggesting that the absence of such a claim influenced Kenya’s decision to assist.
‘Had he said that, maybe the treatment would have been different,’ Mudavadi added. ‘We have to partner with our East African states, and sometimes we have to manage those relations very carefully for the broader national interest.’
His remarks have drawn criticism from civil society groups, who argue that the act amounts to complicity in the unlawful rendition of a political opponent.
Kenya’s prior denials have now been contradicted by Mudavadi’s televised admission, lending weight to claims that regional governments are increasingly working together to suppress dissent.
Treason case seen as politically motivated
Besigye, once personal physician to President Museveni and a long-time rival who has stood against him in multiple elections, is facing treason charges in Uganda—a crime that carries the possibility of a death sentence. His legal troubles are unfolding in the lead-up to Uganda’s next presidential election in January 2026, when Museveni, now 80, is expected to seek re-election after nearly four decades in power.
His case was originally heard in a military court but was transferred to a civilian court earlier this year following a hunger strike by Besigye, who protested what he described as an unfair and politically motivated process.
After a brief session on Wednesday, the case was adjourned until May 29. One of Besigye’s lawyers, Erias Lukwago, voiced frustration at the repeated delays.
‘There is a tendency by court to keep adjourning this case and denying them opportunity to get bail,’ Lukwago told AFP.
Rights groups have decried the arrest and prosecution as part of a broader crackdown on opposition voices in East Africa.
Regional democracy under strain
The Besigye affair is not unfolding in isolation. In neighbouring Tanzania, opposition leader Tundu Lissu is also facing treason charges ahead of elections scheduled for October. In recent days, several foreign activists who travelled to attend his trial were detained and deported by Tanzanian authorities.
Moreover, a Kenyan activist and a Ugandan journalist remain missing after they were reportedly arrested by Tanzanian police, further fuelling fears of coordinated repression among East African governments.
Activists and international observers say the trend is indicative of an alarming democratic backslide in the region, where opposition figures are increasingly targeted through legal, political, and extrajudicial means.
As the region gears up for a series of high-stakes elections, the fate of leaders like Besigye and Lissu may well serve as a litmus test for East Africa’s democratic future.
