Speaker Among Directs Govt To Explain Circumstances Surrounding Besigye, Lutale Arrest From Kenya

The Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Rt Hon Anita Among has tasked Government to bring a statement next week, explaining the circumstances under which former Presidential Candidate, Kizza Besigye and his co-accused, Obeid Lutale Kamulegeya were illegally picked from Kenya, only to surface, arraigned before the Military Court Martial. 

Her directive followed a statement made by Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality), who protested the manner in which Besigye, one of the promoters of newly formed political party, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) was abducted from Kenya where he had gone to attend a book launch by former Justice Minister, Martha Karua.

Ssemujju added that, “News of his missing started circulating three days after his abduction, on 19th November 2024. Besigye was then miraculously arraigned before a Military Disciplinary Committee commonly known as Court Martial, on 20th November 2024. Charges of owning two pistols, which we learnt that day that it was a monopoly of UPDF were read to him and his co-accused. They were also charged with holding meetings in Switzerland, Greece and Nairobi for purposes of undermining the security of Uganda.”

Ssemujju also asked Parliament to join other bodies in condemning the abduction of Besigye from Kenya noting, “The abduction of Besigye has been condemned widely by the United Nations, Lawyers, human rights defenders. Even the Uganda Human Rights Commission has condemned Besigye’s abduction and called for his immediate release. This Parliament should also demand for an explanation from Kenya and whether it still subscribes to the EAC brotherhood.”

“Besigye, together with Hajji Obeid Lutale, Kamulegeya, were abducted from Riverside Apartment where he was attending a brief meeting before proceeding for dinner. He was then driven across the borders by his captors, his passport, National ID, wallet and other belongings remain at the hotel where he had been booked in. Besigye did not, or wasn’t made to undergo Immigrations protocol on the Kenyan or Ugandan Immigrations sides,” said Ssemujju.

Leader of Opposition in Parliament,Rt Hon Joel Ssenyonyi has tasked Governmett to explain whether picking Ugandans from Kenya, and later parading them before the Court Martial has become its latest modus operandi. He made the remarks during today’s plenary sitting where he was reacting to last week’s scenario where former Presidential Candidate,

“I heard one of the things they raised was that he was found with a gun but jurisdiction wise, that doesn’t work, it should be Kenya to complain. So many questions are being raised, yet the answers are too few, I thought Government would help us understand, has that become the modus operandi,” added Ssenyonyi.

The times Presidential candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye was reported missing by his family following a trip to Kenya, only for him to be arraigned before the Court Martial, despite being a civilian.

However, Government chief whip Hon Hamson Obua called on the leadership at Parliament not to rush into condemning Besigye’s abduction from Kenya saying Besigye’s case will be backed by evidence brought by the prosecution and its results will be publically known, and also declined to comment on the matter because it was subject to a court process. “I am alive to the fact that the issue raised by Ssemujju is a matter before court, established by an Act of Parliament, the UPDF Act. What I can confirm on behalf of Government, is what is before the public domain. Is that Besigye was arrested, produced in court, charged and remanded to Luzira Prison.

 “On the call for condemnation, that may be too early because the matter before court will be a subject of evidence, prosecution and the outcome will definitely be known. It may be too early for us to condemn. What I can also advise is that, let us accept to always play within the Rules. Ssemujju and I are sports people, he knows that at times you invite the referee to warn you verbally, at times you are given a yellow card, but if you are a habitual offender, at times you are red carded. So let us advise fellow country men to play within the rules,” said Obua.

However, Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality) rejected Government’s attempts of hiding behind the subjudice rule and avoid explaining the illegalities committed during the abduction of Besigye and Lutale from Kenya to Uganda. “There are however two issues that Government should make a statement on. That relates to our relationship with Kenya especially in light of the fact that we have an extradition treaty with that country. How safe are Ugandans? Now, that is outside the subject of subjudice, that is if we want to hide under that. They must also comment on the apparent illegalities of suspects being brought into the country and doesn’t undergo the undue immigration process to which having their documents stamped by the Immigration officers,” said Basalirwa.