Orengo condemns 'abduction' of Uganda's Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, urges Kenya to demand his release

Besigye is reported to have been forcibly apprehended from an apartment in Nairobi and driven to Uganda where he was arraigned before a court martial on Wednesday.

Orengo further wants the Kenyan government to demand the immediate release of Besigye until the full circumstances of the "abduction" are established.

In his statement, Orengo underscored that the Ugandan political leader was in Nairobi lawfully hence his detention in Kenya was unlawful.

"Mr Besigye did not come to Kenya as a fugitive. The most disturbing question in this saga is that the abduction was carried out by elements of Kenya's security organs. And if that was not so then it would raise fundamental questions about the ability and authority of our security agencies," said Orengo.

He added: "The Kenya Government must demand the immediate release of Mr Besigye until the circumstances of the abduction is established and determined because there is a framework in our laws that could have been invoked in compliance with the dictates of the rule of law and democratic principles."

Videos shared online captured Besigye being led out of a military vehicle in Uganda under tight security by armed officers. 

He was arraigned at the General Court Martial at Makindye in Kampala, with various offences, including "holding meetings aimed at soliciting logistical support and identifying military targets in Uganda with intent to prejudice the security of the Uganda People's Defence Forces."

"Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye, Haji Obeid Lutale on November 16, 2024, while at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, Kenya were found in unlawful possession of pistol model 27KAL No.765 and Pistol HB 1014 1953 which is ordinarily the monopoly of the Defence Forces," the charge sheet seen by Citizen Digital reads in part.

Besigye He was charged alongside Haji Obeid Utale, with a charge sheet indicating that the duo allegedly committed the offences between October 2023 and November 2024 in Geneva (Switzerland), Athens (Greece) and Nairobi.