Dr. Winnie Byanyima, the wife of Ugandan veteran politician Dr. Kizza Besigye, has revealed details surrounding her husband’s alleged abduction in Nairobi earlier this month.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday, November 27, Byanyima recounted the events leading up to the incident.
According to Byanyima, Dr. Besigye arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, November 16, to attend the launch of Martha Karua’s new book scheduled for the following day.
Shortly after his arrival, Besigye was invited by a British national, described as a close friend, to discuss potential investments in African political parties an idea that intrigued him.
Besigye attended the meeting at Riverside Apartments in Nairobi, accompanied by his party colleague, Haji Obeid Utale.
Upon their arrival, the two were introduced to another individual, a stranger to Besigye, alongside the British national.
The situation took a dramatic turn when there was a knock on the door, accompanied by shouts claiming the presence of Kenyan police.
Byanyima revealed that the British national eventually opened the door, only to find eight men in plain clothes who declared they were there to arrest him.
To Besigye’s surprise, the British national was armed with two guns and had a box of money in the room.
This unexpected development raised concerns for the Ugandan politician.
“I talked about fundraising, but I wasn’t expecting this,” Byanyima quoted Besigye as saying during the confrontation.
The British man, however, fled the scene, leaving Besigye, his colleague, and the stranger with the alleged policemen.
Besigye and Utale were then reportedly forced into a vehicle and driven overnight toward the Ugandan border.
Despite the allegations, the Kenyan government has strongly denied any involvement in Besigye’s abduction.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei stated that Kenya was unaware of Besigye’s presence in the country.
“The circumstances surrounding Kizza’s travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us prior to his trip.
We did not know which hotel he was booked into or where he stayed, and therefore we were not in a position to provide him with any additional security,” Sing’oei explained.
The incident has drawn significant attention, with questions about the nature of Besigye’s meeting and the alleged role of law enforcement in his ordeal.
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