Opinion: The Besigye case is an indictment of the Museveni era

“The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has issued a production warrant directing the Uganda Prisons Services to produce Retired Col Dr Kizza Besigye to continue with the trial  in which he is accused of  inciting violence” (Uganda Radio Network, 05.12.2024).

The recent case of abduction, subsequent arrest and detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye is just a proof of how the oppression of the Republic works. Besigye is just a live manifestation of how they work. This isn’t new, but sadly how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) uses their authority, monopoly of violence and silence its critics.

Dr. Kizza Besigye was kidnapped and abducted from Nairobi, Kenya, as he was a visitor and a man who planned to participate in a book-launch of an opposition leader there. That was thwarted and stopped. He couldn’t take a part of that and was later revealed to be in custody and to be produced to the Makindye Military Court. A civilian tried in a Court Martial.

As the case itself is questionable at best, as it is as manufactured as can be. Since the man was supposed to carry UPDF monopolized pistols and ammunition. Meanwhile also having the time to schedule and incite violence in Uganda. Therefore, the authorities and the criminal prosecution have to prove these alleged crimes and come fourth with evidence of both. Alas, that will take forever, and we know they are “pending it all”.

This case will be stalled and be pushed back. That is custom and ordinary practice. As the criminals and the supposed felons are captured before the deed. Neither is their witnesses, or any proof provide to the courts. Neither if they are civilian nor a military one. No, these things are prolonged and the agony never ending. They can push it for months and years before any sort of arrangement is put forward and the loss of interest in the case dies. That’s when the supposed felon is allowed to enter society again on bail. Meanwhile have to come to scheduled hearings and trials, but they will not address the matter either. Therefore, we know the drill here.

Nothing new under the sun. Nothing new at all. The NRM and the authorities can act a fool. They can take everyone for idiots and think we are all naïve. Alas, that isn’t the case. We know why they are doing it and stifling Besigye from operating as a civilian yet again. That’s what they are up too and hoping to stop him in his tracks.

However, this is just creating the same issue all over again. Doing the same bidding and creating same sort of fallacy. Which will only cause more havoc and pain. The suffering and the impunity against one man. They have pinned hundreds of charges on Besigye in the past and nothing has sticked. That’s because it is manufactured and used as a tool to silence the man. This the zero-sum game the state has and it’s obvious. Peace.

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Radical New Bar – An Open Letter to the Chief Justice (28.11.2024)

Uganda Law Society (ULS): Statement Condemning the Rendition and Subsequent Prosecution of Dr. Kizza Besigye & 36 Others (22.11.2024)

President Museveni pardons 19 NUP political prisoners after punitive actions for over 3 years

It took the authorities, the state and the Executive over 3 years and 8 months before releasing the 19 National Unity Platform (NUP) activists who was arrested in 2020 in Kalangala district ahead of the 2021 elections. There was others who was picked up in the Greater Kampala region like Mukono and Wakiso district.

They said these individuals had ammunition and explosives. The NUP activists surrounding the campaign and the election was dangerous, which was planning to destabilize the Republic. These individuals because of their charges has been arraigned in Court Martial as civilians. They have been targeted and used as pawns by the state.

In 2024 and after suffering for over three years. The likes of a minister by the name of Balaam visits these people. Civilians who has suffered, been punished and been said to be guilty of serious crimes. He told them that if they did accept the charges and ate the burden of just that. The minister would speak to the high above and get them released.

Now later that has happened. The 19 activists are free, but at a cost. They said the charges was truthful and they will forever be felons. That’s the initial price of their liberty and freedom. These people has lost their time and ability for years. These people shouldn’t have been behind bars to begin with. They took the time and weren’t allowed to be ordinary civilians.

That shows how the militarized states act. They are using Military Court and making up phony charges to pin on political active people. These people who are aligned with the wrong party and at the wrong time. They have been prisoners on conscience.

All of them deserves better and they have been served injustice. The pardon is only the aftermath. The state should have paid damages, but that won’t happen when they pleaded guilty to avoid more time in prison. They have accepted a crime that they never did. These people ate a charge to able to be released. That’s how sick and sinister this is.

The ones celebrating their freedom and liberty now. That can easily be taken away. If the President changes his mind or if the State can further the cases. We know how these things can go. Especially, if the individuals are daring to go into the ring and going into the public for the opposition, which was the reason why they got arrested and detained in the first place.

These sorts of cases will continue. People are on remand and in the middle of the system. Because the President and the authorities are there to violate them. They are daring to question the power and the ones who has instruments of the state. The Executive pardoned them today, but his government and his security agencies shouldn’t have kept them behind bars anyway. Peace.

Nkunyingi Muwanda MP: Statement on the Arrest and Repariation of Uganda Nationas from Kenya including Rt. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye (20.11.2024)

Opinion: The pistols of Besigye doesn’t make sense

The authorities of the Ugandan state don’t make. He took a flight to Nairobi and checked into a hotel. Meanwhile hiring a taxi driver to have another meeting at another location. Also preparing for a book launch of an opposition leader in the Kenyan capital. Therefore, it seems far-fetched.

Because why would the airline allow Dr. Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale to carry 8 rounds of bullets and have two pistols. In addition, having plans to solicit more weaponry and logistical support from Switzerland and Greece.

First and foremost, where and how where they able to get the guns? Especially, when the UPDF itself says to have a monopoly over the type of weapon. This means someone from the UPDF “sold” or “gave” it away to Besigye at one point. That must have happened before he travelled to Nairobi. Where he was alleged to solicit more of it and logistical support.

That’s why this is all hogwash. Just like the planted weaponry and ammunition that was pictured in the Hotel Room of Arua after Bobi Wine was arrested in the ruckus after the post-election melee after the Arua By-Election. It seems like the same thing all over again. It is the same sort of narrative and story, which is to malign and vilify Besigye.

They have sought similar charges of “destabilize Uganda” before and that was natural after kidnapping him, and later arraigning him in court days after. The authorities couldn’t take him for a parking violation or failing to pay a punitive fine. No, it had to be something serious and with severe ramification. That’s why they have created this case and made up these allegations.

It is just really striking that the two gentlemen were able to carry guns, take them through the airports. Get the weapons cleared and also the ammunition. Meanwhile getting a coordinated effort to capture them. Using that sort of intelligence and covert operation to detain them from Kenya. That’s really something. This is the sort of story is fun in a Hollywood production, but not in real life.

Especially when Besigye only checked into the hotel and never arrived to the Riverside apartments where we was scheduled to have meetings. Which means the state knew about this and kidnapped him before it. Now they are alleging him and his fellow traveller are co-conspirators in the same conspiracy.

The UPDF and the Government of Uganda is now making fanfiction for the Courts. Just in a way to justify the arrest, detaining and keeping them behind bars. There is no reality this makes sense. Why would two civilians have with them pistols, which is monopolized by the UPDF to Kenya? Why? For what reason and how did they arrive there?

That’s why you know this doesn’t add up… and isn’t true. The authorities and the army is foolish for thinking people will buy into this. Especially, when the state has manufactured charges against Besigye in the past and none of them has ever sticked. That’s because they are all fictional and not fact. They are allegations without proof, evidence or even witnesses who can beneath a doubt verify it. Therefore, it is just foolish and dumb… Peace.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in the General Court Martial Holden at Makindye-Kampala – Case No. 040 – Charge Sheet of Dr. Kizza Besigye and Haji Obeid Lutale (20.11.2024)

Kenya: Governor James Orengo – Statement on the unlawful abduction of Kizza Besigye (20.11.2024)

Ugandan opposition aren’t safe in Kenya

“According to his family, Dr. Besigye was abducted on Saturday in Nairobi and is suspected to be under military detention here in Uganda. This is most unfortunate!  A few months ago, 36 other activists were abducted from Nairobi and brought back to Uganda in utter violation of the law. As we call for his immediate release, we condemn this blatant abuse of the law by the regime here in Uganda, and sadly the authorities in Kenya. We are back to the dark days when Ugandans were casually picked from the streets of Nairobi and returned to Uganda to be tortured, jailed and others executed. The abduction of Ugandan citizens from Kenya and handing them over to the regime in Uganda without following extradition laws must be condemned by all people of good conscience!” (Bobi Wine, 20.11.2024).

Yet again, the authorities and the state of the Republic of Kenya is allowing Ugandan citizens to be apprehended, kidnapped and taken into custody when they cross the borders by force. This happened earlier in the year, and it happens yet again.

The Operational Zone for foreign intelligence organizations is clear. The Kenyan authorities under the reign of President William Ruto is allowing it. They are accepting and vouching for these actions.

Just imagine that Dr. Kizza Besigye checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel and met with a taxi driver for a meeting at Riverside Apartments. A driver that waited for him and he never showed up. The same happened with his supposed appearance at the book launch of Marta Karua on Sunday. Therefore, they knew he was going to the hotel and abducted him from there. Since he never saw the driver again for the planned meeting later the same day.

This just shows that someone flew into Nairobi and checked into a hotel. Then after all of this and with the planned schedule of Besigye. He was captured and silenced. As his communication was shut-off and the kidnappers muted him. Until we saw him again arraigned at the Makindye Military Court at the Makindye Military Barracks in Uganda.

There unverified reports that the Kenyan state is allowing Ugandan security operatives to abduct and kidnap citizens within the republic. If that is agreed upon between the heads of state. That is unknown too, but it is a reason for this speculation to happen. Especially, when stories like Besigye is happening. When other citizens are captured in Kenya and later either detained or arraigned before the courts in Uganda. Therefore, there is a coordination and allowed actions on Kenyan soil. If it is Nairobi or in Kisumu. They are allowed to act and do as they please.

This shows that the Ugandan activists and people aren’t in a safe haven in Kenya. The Government of Kenya is allowing it and letting it happen. They are saying “okay” and giving the Ugandan state a “heads up”.

If you are afraid of drones in Uganda. There is a possibility for a similar action happening in Kenya. That’s the message here. They are allowing it and accepting the fate of the foreigners who goes to Kenya. These are in an “operational zone” and are “fair game”. That’s why this happens and people should be concerned. Because the authorities are okay with it and they aren’t even worried about the consequences of doing so.

If they were afraid or worried about it. These people wouldn’t be captured and arraigned later in the courts in their nation. No, they would be safe and be able to escape the authorities in Kenya. Alas, that isn’t the case, and no Ugandan activist or opposition is safe in Kenya. That’s the message that is sent and it’s tragic. Peace.

Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network: Abduction of Dr Kizza Besigye from Nairobi on the Night of Saturday the 16th November 2024 (20.11.2024)