NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan Human rights groups have mounted pressure on the Ugandan government to immediately and unconditionally release the country’s opposition politician, Dr. Kizza Besigye.
On Monday, February 24, 2025, the 12 lobby groups held a peaceful protest in Nairobi before submitting their petition to Parliament and the Ugandan High Commission.
The consortium of human rights groups, lawyers and doctors gathered outside the Ugandan High Commission and demanded an end to what they termed the illegal detention of Dr. Besigye.
“The Ugandan government has an obligation under the International rights law including obligation relating to the liberty of person and the right to freedom and fair trial from torture and I’ll treatment,” said Steve Mbugua, Council member Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Why everyone must stand in solidarity with Dr. Besigye
Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Board (KMPDU) Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah said they had come out to stand tall and say that injustice to one is injustice to all.
“The only way we can express this is by coming out and speaking against it because if we don’t that injustice will be perpetrated. A time comes when you are one, two or three you have to come out and say this is injustice. We are taking this as the first step to ask the Ugandan government to actually release Dr. Besigye,” said Dr. Atellah.
“When we lose our fear they lose their power” #FreeKizzaBesigye #FreeAllPoliticalPrisonersInUganda
Jenerali Ulimwengu, Tanzanian senior jurist said:
“Immediately free Dr. Kizza Besigye and his co-accused Hajj Obeid Lutale.”
How Kenyan lawyers reacted to Dr. Besigye’s detention
Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan while speaking outside Parliament buildings said:
“This particular move, whatever has happened to Dr. Besigye, violation of his human and democratic rights is of special concern to us.”
On his part, Dan Maazo, Senator Makueni said:
“It is very important that as a country, Kenya respects human rights international law. You can never be abducted and taken to Tanzania forcefully or taken to Uganda forcefully.”
What Dr. Kizza Besigye’s lawyer said in Nairobi
Armed with placards they sang in solidarity with Dr. Besigye and condemned what they termed inhuman and undemocratic treatment of Besigye who has been in detention since his abduction in Nairobi in November 2024.
“We are here to demand even from Nairobi, Kenya the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Kizza Besigye and others charged under the same provisions of the laws of Uganda,” said Andrew Karamagi, Dr. Besigye’s lawyer.
We have delivered our joint petition to the Uganda High Commission demanding: Immediate release of #KizzaBesigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale & lawyer Eron Kiiza An end to the militarization of justice & political repression Prevent any harm to or loss of life of Kizza Besigye, Hajj…
Dr. Atellah further disclosed that Dr. Besigye worked in Kenya at the Aga Khan Hospital from 1982 to 1986 and also worked at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
“So, this is someone who has offered services to the Kenyan people. For him to be abducted in a safe haven in Kenya and be taken to a military prison in Uganda means that nobody safe. It might be him today, tomorrow it might be me or you or anybody else and that is why we cannot keep silence in the heightened time of injustice. We must come out and speak it out and we must ask the Kenyan government, why this is being done,” explained Dr. Atellah.
What are the demands of the human rights groups
In a statement, Amnesty International Kenya said the groups had delivered their joint petition to the Uganda High Commission demanding:
Immediate release of Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale and lawyer Eron Kiiza, an end to the militarisation of justice and political repression.
The lobby groups also want the Ugandan government to prevent any harm to or loss of life of Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Lawyer Eron Kiiza and all others detained.
Impartially, effectively, independently, and transparently review all cases of civilians on trial in the General Court Martial and immediately cease prosecution of civilians in military courts.
They are also calling for prompt, thorough, impartial, independent, transparency, and effective investigation into death threats against Kizza Besigye by President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
They also demanded for immediate proposal of amendments to the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces Act, 2005 as ordered by the Supreme Court to align it to constitutional principles on due process.
