Besigye, aide sue Kenya for alleged cross-border abduction by Ugandan agents
They allege they were then driven back to Uganda under the cover of darkness, without being presented before a court or undergoing formal legal extradition procedures.
Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and his political aide Hajj Obeid Lutale have filed a lawsuit against the Kenyan government, alleging they were unlawfully arrested in Nairobi and handed over to Ugandan authorities without following due legal process.
The two claim they entered Kenya lawfully on November 16, 2024, through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), to attend a book launch hosted by Kenyan politician Martha Karua.
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However, they allege that they were abducted within Kenyan territory by armed men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as Kenyan police officers.
According to a report by Uganda’s Daily Monitor, the pair allege in a petition filed before Kenya’s High Court that they were “unlawfully, forcefully, and violently abducted within Kenyan territory by security agencies from the Republic of Uganda and driven back to Uganda in the cover of darkness.”
They claim the arrest was carried out by about eight men in civilian clothes armed with sub-machine guns (SMGs), who introduced themselves as Kenyan police officers, informed them they were under arrest, and immediately took them to a basement.
The petitioners further state they were bundled into one vehicle along with four others, including the driver, while the remaining officers occupied other vehicles.
They claim the convoy stopped at a fuel station before proceeding to the Malaba border post, where they realised the four men were Ugandans "after they heard them speak in the local dialect, Runyankore.
They allege they were then driven back to Uganda under the cover of darkness, without being presented before a court or undergoing formal legal extradition procedures.
Upon arrival in Kampala, they say they were "detained incommunicado at Makindye Military Barracks," where they were denied fundamental rights.
The petition states they were "denied access to lawyers, medical assistance, detained within military barracks, in a place not gazetted for civilians, and were denied access to family members, nor were they informed of the reason for arrest.
They argue that their extradition “did not meet the strict requirements” of Kenya’s Extradition (Commonwealth Countries) Act Cap. 77, which sets out the legal process for surrendering individuals to other Commonwealth states.
They currently face charges including possession of firearms and later treason, in a civilian court.
The High Court in Kampala has scheduled a bail hearing for August 6, 2025.
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