The recent detention of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye in Kenya has taken a dramatic turn, with his wife, Winnie Byanyima, alleging that a British operative played a pivotal role in his abduction. Besigye and his associate, Obed Lutale, were taken from Riverside Apartments in Nairobi under suspicious circumstances last week and later charged in Kampala’s General Court Martial with illegal possession of ammunition and compromising national security.
Byanyima claims the operation was a calculated scheme involving a paid British agent. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), she accused the operative of attempting to frame Besigye by planting firearms at the scene. “Unknown to Dr. Besigye, the British man was a paid operative who tried to plant guns on him. He facilitated the abduction and then left the room, leaving behind his pistols. He was not ‘arrested’!” Byanyima alleged.
Prosecutors claim Besigye and Lutale were found with eight rounds of pistol ammunition on November 16, 2024. They face charges under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act and the Firearms Act. The charges carry serious implications, including potential security-related offenses.
However, Byanyima has vehemently denied the accusations, insisting that Besigye is being targeted to undermine his political activism. She dismissed suggestions that Besigye traveled to Kenya to seek foreign funding for his political movement, the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF). “Dr. Besigye fundraises for political mobilization through legitimate channels. His party operates democratically with local and international support,” she said.
Byanyima also criticized the government for using military courts to try her husband, a civilian. “Every time the government has framed Dr. Besigye, the courts have upheld his innocence. These false allegations will also be exposed and dismissed in a civilian court. Trying Dr. Besigye, an unarmed civilian, in a military court will be a travesty of justice,” she remarked.
The case has sparked widespread criticism, with opposition figures and activists calling it an example of political repression in Uganda. Supporters argue that the charges are part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and weaken opposition movements.
As the General Court Martial proceedings continue under Brig. Freeman Mugabe, calls for Besigye’s release have intensified. The case underscores the increasing tension between the Ugandan government and opposition leaders, further deepening the nation’s political divide.
Dr. Kizza Besigye is a prominent Ugandan opposition leader, physician, and former military officer. Once an ally of President Yoweri Museveni, Besigye served as his personal physician during the liberation struggle and later as a key figure in his government. However, he became one of Museveni's fiercest critics, accusing the regime of corruption and authoritarianism. Besigye has contested Uganda's presidency multiple times as the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), enduring arrests, detention, and intimidation for his activism. His relentless push for democratic reforms has made him a symbol of resistance in Uganda.
