The spouse of Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye had cried out to the general public, claiming he has been kidnapped and is being held in a military jail.
Winnie Byanyima had made a post on X alleging that her husband had been seized in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi last Saturday during a book launch event.
“I am now reliably informed that he is in a military jail in Kampala,” she had posted, demanding that the government of Uganda release her husband.
At the time of filing this report, there has been no comment from the Ugandan government on the issue.
The 68-year-old leader had led the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) political party, contesting and losing four presidential elections against incumbent Yoweri Museveni, who has been on seat since 1986.
“We his family and his lawyers demand to see him,” his wife shared on X, adding, “He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?”
Winnie Byanyima is a human rights proponent and executive director of Unaids, the joint UN programme which was established to eradicate Aids.
Kizza Besigye used to be Museveni’s personal doctor but he transitioned to an opposition leader and has referred to leader of the east African country as a “dictator”.
Besigye also alleged that previous presidential elections were rigged – a claim rejected by the government.
The opposition figure has been apprehended on many occasions in the past.
On one such occasion, he was shot in the hand, while on another, he suffered eye injuries after being doused in pepper spray.
The authorities have since accused him of provoking them, and he has been charged with inciting violence.
