Police brace for Nairobi protests demanding Kizza Besigye release

Nairobi police commander George Sedah said they are ready to handle the protesters set to hold demos in the City demanding the release of Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union said they will attend the protest.

They will join more than 12 other organisations which have said they will turn up to push for the release of the politician and others in custody.

KMPDU said in a statement it will attend the protests in Nairobi on Monday, February 24 to demand the release of Besigye, Haji Obeid, Eron Kiiza and all Ugandan political prisoners.

The protesters will gather at Aga Khan Walk and march to Parliament Buildings to deliver a petition from 10 am.

Another group will gather at 2 pm at Riverside before marching to the Ugandan High Commission to petition officials there.

The protest was initially planned for Friday, February 21 but was pushed to Monday.

“Mon, Feb 24 - Demand freedom for Dr Kizza Besigye, Haji Obeid Lutale, Eron Kiiza & all Ugandan political prisoners,” KMPDU said in a post on X.

Police authorities said they had mobilized and deployed dozens of anti-riot police ahead of the planned protest.

The anti-riot team was Friday positioned at among others the Ugandan embassy, residence, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Nairobi and outside State House.

There were more cops outside Parliament.

Water cannons were also seen parked at the sites in readiness for a clash.

Police said they will again deploy more cops as a precaution.

He did not indicate if the police would disperse the group planning the protests.

Human rights activists, lawyers and medical practitioners in East Africa called on the Ugandan government to release Besigye, who has spent the past three months in military detention.

The 12 organizations have called for people to join a march to the Ugandan embassy in Nairobi and the parliament building to present a petition for justice and the release of Besigye and those detained alongside him.

Besigye, who was abducted while on a trip to Kenya in November, was recently rushed to a hospital after going on a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment.

Besigye was abducted by unidentified men while on a visit to Kenya in November 2024 and taken to Luzira Maximum Security Prison in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

He is charged with treason, illegal possession of a firearm and threatening national security. The 68-year-old fell ill and was taken to a hospital after going on a hunger strike to protest his arrest and the charges. On January 31, the Ugandan Supreme Court ruled that the trial of civilians in a military court is unconstitutional and that such cases must be transferred to ordinary courts. But the government rejected the ruling, saying such trials protect the country from criminals. In a statement posted on X, Museveni called on those demanding the release of Besigye to instead demand a quick trial to establish the facts.

He said such demands promote insecurity, which is dangerous for the country.