Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye has revealed that he has not communicated with anyone since his arrest in Nairobi.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, November 20, from his location in Uganda, Besigye disclosed that he has not even consulted his lawyers regarding his situation.
“I have not been in contact with any person since I was arrested in Nairobi, so I could not have any brief with any lawyers. I will be having my own lawyers, but I haven’t briefed them,” he stated.
His remarks follow revelations by NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, who detailed Besigye’s last known moments before his arrest.
Karua recounted that Besigye arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, November 16, and checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel and Suites. He later left the hotel with a taxi driver for a meeting at 108 Riverside Apartments, Apt. No. C1102, after which he was not seen again.
“The driver waited for him in the basement parking from about 4:30 p.m. to late evening until around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday when he gave up and left, having received no response to his several messages,” Karua explained.
Karua further noted that Besigye was scheduled to attend and speak at her book launch on Sunday, November 17, but he failed to show up.
“We suspect that Dr. Besigye may have been abducted after he was dropped at the Riverside Apartments, most likely by Ugandan authorities working in cahoots with and facilitated by Kenyan authorities,” she added.
On Wednesday morning, Besigye’s wife, Winnie Byanyima, pleaded with Ugandan authorities to release her husband.
“I request the government of Uganda to release my husband, Dr. Kizza Besigye, from where he is being held immediately. He was kidnapped last Saturday while he was in Nairobi for Martha Karua’s book launch,” Byanyima appealed.
