Activists, civil societies stage demo to demand Besigye's release

A group of civil society organisations and activists on Monday held protests in Nairobi Central business district demanding the release of detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye.

Among the signatories who endorsed the petition were Amnesty International, the Centre for Strategic Litigation, the Independent Medico-Legal Unit, the International Commission of Jurists, the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU).

Others were the Law Society of Kenya, Pan African Lawyers Union, East Africa Law Society, Vocal Africa, Mwanzo.org and Change Tanzania Movement.

Bessigye was arrested in Nairobi before being extradited to Uganda where he faces charges of treason.

“We, the undersigned organisations, condemn the militarization of justice in Uganda and escalating government repression ahead of the 2026 general elections and call on the Ugandan authorities to immediately release Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, Eron Kiiza and others unlawfully detained,” the petition read.

The petitioners argued that detaining Besigye and Lutale was a violation of international human rights law and the principles of extradition treaties.

“The conviction of lawyer, Eron Kiiza, by General Court Martial for “contempt of court” and sentencing to nine months imprisonment without a fair trial is brazen targeting of a lawyer in the line of duty,” it added.

They further called for an impartial and transparent review of all cases of civilians on trial in the general courts and demanded a halt to the prosecution of civilians in military courts in Uganda.

The petition added that an impartial, independent and transparent investigation ought to be done to address alleged death threats Kizza Besigye was facing by Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the Chief of defence forces of Uganda Peoples’ Defence forces.

They called for urgent action to protect his life.

For the Kenyan authorities, petitioners advocated for an end to abductions.

The petition was presented to the National Assembly where it was received by lawmakers among them, Makueni senator Dan Maanzo and Kamukunji Member of Parliament Abdi Yusuf outside the Parliament.