KIZZA BESIGYE FILES A LAWSUIT AGANIST THE GOVERNMENTS OF KENYA AND UGANDA OVER HIS ABDUCTION IN NAIROBI.

December 9, 2024 18 2

Ugandan Opposition leader Kifefe Kizza Besigye

Uganda’s opposition leader Kizza Besigye, together with his political associate Hajj Obeid Lutale, has filed a lawsuit against the governments of Kenya and Uganda at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) following their abduction in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16.

In the legal action filed on December 4, according to Uganda’s Daily Monitor, Besigye claimed he was forcibly abducted and sent back to Uganda to face trial in a military court.

Besigye argued that it is illegal to try civilians in military courts and condemned the Kenyan government for failing to uphold its constitutional responsibility to protect individuals within its territory.

The two were allegedly seized by Ugandan military forces, with the cooperation of Kenyan authorities, and then transferred to Uganda.

Four-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye has claimed that Kenyan security forces assisted their Ugandan counterparts in carrying out what he described as an extraterritorial abduction.

In a legal filing, Besigye, through his legal representatives, argued that the abduction violated multiple rights protected under the Kenyan Constitution as well as the East African Treaty.

The East African Court of Justice (EACJ) has instructed the Attorneys General of both Uganda and Kenya to respond to the petition within 45 days. If they fail to do so, the case will proceed without their input.

The petitioners contend that their abduction breaches international law, regional agreements, and core human rights principles.

Winnie Byanyima, Besigye’s wife, who raised the alarm following the incident, revealed that after their capture, Besigye was violently forced into a car, bound, and left in a helpless state along with his political ally, Lutale. The abductors then sat on them during the entire journey to Kampala.

The abduction, which has sent shockwaves across the East African Community, led to Besigye being remanded in prison until December 2, 2024, pending trial on charges related to national security.

Besigye’s trial in the Military Court has been postponed due to procedural complications regarding his legal representation in Uganda.

The charges brought against Besigye include the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, with the prosecution claiming that the offences took place across several international locations. Read morehttp://www.iconradio.co.ke

By Magdaline Wangechi