Kenya is under scrutiny after Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye was allegedly abducted in Nairobi and transferred to Uganda, where he now faces charges of illegal firearm possession in a military court. Besigye, a staunch critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, vanished in Kenya on Saturday and resurfaced days later in Kampala. Kenya’s foreign ministry has denied involvement, labeling the incident an "abduction" and launching an investigation, while Uganda claims the arrest was a joint operation.
Critics have slammed both governments, accusing Kenya of failing to protect foreign dissidents and Uganda of abusing human rights. Besigye's wife, Winnie Byanyima, insists he has not owned a firearm in two decades and decried his trial in a military court. The U.N. human rights chief and the International Commission of Jurists have called for Besigye’s immediate release, describing the cross-border transfer as a disturbing echo of state-sponsored kidnappings in East Africa’s past.
This incident follows a pattern of controversial deportations by Kenya, including 36 members of Besigye's party in July and Turkish refugees last month, raising alarms over Kenya's commitment to human rights. U.S. lawmakers have also expressed concern, questioning the actions of key partners in the region and their adherence to international norms.
