Kenya Launches Official Probe intoUgandan Leader’s Alleged Kidnapping

The government of Kenya announced that it is looking into the suspected kidnapping ofKizza Besigye, a well-known opposition politician from Uganda.He disappeared after a book launch in Nairobi and was found in the Ugandan military court afew days later. He was accused of offences including unlawful handgun possession when hereturned to a military court in neighbouring Uganda on Wednesday.Nairobi made the declaration in the face of mounting accusations that it does not go farenough in safeguarding foreign dissidents on its territory.Human rights organisations charged Kenya with engaging in a “pattern” of working withforeign governments to kidnap political opponents.One of the charges against Besigye is by a well known opponent of Ugandan PresidentYoweri Museveni for the unauthorised possession of a gun.According to the charge sheet filed by the Ugandan court, Besigye was discovered inNairobi’s Riverside neighbourhood with a pistol and eight rounds of ammunition and it wasstated that he had been looking for assistance to compromise Uganda’s military’s security.The accusations against Besigye are denied by his wife Winnie Byanyima, the executivedirector of UNAIDS who claims that he hasn’t held a gun in twenty years. Besigye ispresently being held at Luzira Prison in Kampala and on December 2, he is scheduled toappear in court.It is anticipated that the 68 year old Basigye would be held at Kampala’s Luzira Prison untilDecember 2.Museveni’s administration has disputed allegations that it has often violated the human rightsof opposition leaders and sympathisers.This issue came as a result of 36 members of Besigye’s political party being deported byKenyan police to Uganda in July after being accused of terrorism related offences