Alleging a coordinated abduction by Kenyan and Ugandan security agencies, the network has condemned the incident as a grave violation of international law and human rights.
Dr. Besigye was last seen after being dropped off at Riverside Apartments for a meeting.
A taxi driver who waited for him in the parking area from 4:30 PM until 4:00 AM Sunday received no response to his calls or messages.
Martha Karua, the network’s convener, confirmed that his whereabouts remain unknown, with his phone going unanswered.
“We suspect that Dr. Besigye may have been abducted after he was dropped at Riverside Apartments, most likely by Ugandan authorities working in cahoots with and facilitated by Kenyan authorities,” the statement reads.
The timing of the incident has raised additional concerns as Dr. Besigye was scheduled to speak at Martha Karua’s book launch on Sunday, November 17, but failed to appear, prompting immediate alarms among his family and colleagues.
This latest incident adds to a troubling history of alleged cross-border abductions in East Africa.
In July 2024, 36 Ugandans affiliated with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) were reportedly detained in Kisumu, Kenya, and forcibly transported to Uganda, where they were tortured and held without due process.
“These abductions from Kenyan soil, followed by illegal detention in other countries, do not bode well for the region,” said Karua.
She also highlighted the forced return of Turkish refugees from Kenya as another recent violation of international law, calling these actions a “blatant disregard for the principle of non-refoulement.”
The network has called on Kenyan security agencies, especially the National Police Service, to account for Dr. Besigye’s disappearance and for both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments to adhere to human rights and international law.
"We challenge the
governments of Kenya and Uganda to conduct their cross-border operations in
accordance with their respective laws and international human rights law,” the
statement emphasized.
Karua criticised the trend of what she described as state-sponsored abductions.
"Why would governments connive to abduct their citizens across borders when they have the opportunity to make a formal arrest at home?”
The Pan-African Opposition Leaders Solidarity Network has also informed various international organizations about the incident, including the African Union, the East African Community, and the United Nations.
They have urged immediate action to prevent further violations.
“This does not augur well for our safety as East Africans when we visit Jumuia countries,” the statement added, referencing the East African Community Treaty’s obligations to uphold the rule of law. "
The statement concluded with a firm demand for Dr. Besigye’s unconditional release and an end to what the network termed “inhuman and illegal practices informed by intimidation, malice, and impunity.”
