On Tuesday, the military police brought Besigye to court in a detainee van, arriving three hours later than scheduled. Dressed in a navy-blue suit and a pink-grey striped shirt, Besigye smiled and waved his signature two-finger political symbol to the crowd of party members and well-wishers who had gathered outside the court since morning.
Besigye was reportedly in Nairobi to attend a book launch by Kenyan opposition figure Martha Karua when he was taken. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, who is also the executive director of UNAIDS, has been vocal about her husband’s abduction, demanding his immediate and unconditional release. “My husband has been abducted,” she stated on social media, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding his detention.
The specific charges against Besigye are yet to be disclosed, but the military’s involvement raises concerns about the treatment of opposition figures in Uganda. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the government and opposition leaders, with calls for transparency and justice growing louder among Besigye’s supporters.