Kenyan and Ugandan activists are demanding answers from Nairobi over the transfer of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye from Kenya to Uganda, as concerns grow over his deteriorating health. The activists say Besigye’s November 2024 transfer from Nairobi to Uganda bypassed Kenya’s normal extradition procedures. They are calling for an independent investigation into who authorized and facilitated the operation, as well as Besigye’s release and access to specialized medical treatment. Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi previously acknowledged that Kenya “cooperated with the Ugandan authorities” in the transfer. The 70-year-old former presidential candidate has been detained since November 2024 and faces treason charges in Uganda. Prosecutors allege that he participated in meetings in Uganda and abroad as part of a plot to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni’s government.
Besigye denies the accusations. His case initially went before a military court, but proceedings were later moved to the civilian High Court. His health has become a major concern. Besigye collapsed during a High Court hearing in Kampala on July 29 and was admitted to Mulago National Referral Hospital. Although he was later returned to detention, he was transferred again to the Joint Clinical Research Centre in late August after his condition worsened, according to his wife, Winnie Byanyima. She has appealed for permission to take him to Geneva for specialized treatment. Uganda’s High Court has also ordered medical assessments to determine whether Besigye is fit to participate in his trial. On August 18, the court ruled that proceedings could continue in his absence after receiving a medical report stating that he was able to communicate and understand the proceedings.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the treatment of Besigye’s legal team and other opposition figures. Activists say the case reflects wider concerns about political freedoms and the use of state institutions against government critics in Uganda and the region. The activists plan demonstrations in Nairobi on Thursday, September 3, targeting the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior. They are seeking accountability for Besigye’s transfer, his immediate release, medical evacuation and a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding his detention. The dispute puts Kenya under renewed scrutiny over its role in the case, while Besigye’s worsening health adds urgency to calls for a resolution of his long-running detention.
