WHO BETRAYED BESIGYE?
By Aggrey Baba
When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers. But what happens when the elephants pretend they aren’t even fighting? The story of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s arrest feels like a riddle wrapped in a puzzle, leaving everyone guessing what is true and what is not.
Imagine a respected opposition leader, four-time presidential candidate, and vocal critic of Uganda’s government, quietly attending a book launch in Nairobi. Days later, he’s not just arrested but whisked across borders into Uganda, accused of serious crimes. How did this happen? Who knew, and who didn’t?
Kenya was quick to wash its hands clean. Officials loudly denied any role in the arrest, with Dr. Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, saying, “We had no hand in this. Dr. Besigye often visits Kenya for private matters, but this was not our doing.” His words seemed clear, but as the old saying goes, [The mouth may lie, but the eyes cannot].
Across the border in Uganda, a different story was unfolding. On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Col. Rafael Mugisha, a senior officer at Uganda’s army court, boldly claimed that Kenya had been part of the operation. “Under the East African protocol, we cooperate on security matters. That’s how Dr. Besigye was brought here,” he said. His words contradicted Kenya’s public stance, leaving many wondering who is telling the truth?
Even Uganda’s own officials seemed to stir the pot further. ICT Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi asked a question many are still grappling with: “How do you arrest someone in Nairobi and bring them to Uganda without Kenya’s knowledge? It’s impossible.” But is it? Or is this just a game of shifting blame? [The one who hides a snake in their pocket will eventually get bitten].
Dr. Besigye and his co-accused, Haj Obeid Lutale, now face charges of possessing illegal firearms and plotting against Uganda’s security. Court documents claim they were part of meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi to plan attacks against Uganda’s military. But their lawyers have called the arrest an outright abduction, arguing there were no proper extradition or deportation procedures. [A thief cries louder than the owner of the house].
Kenya’s silence on these new revelations is deafening. Repeated calls to its officials have gone unanswered. Meanwhile, Uganda insists everything was done legally, with Brig. Gen. Felix Kulayigye hinting at secret agreements between the two countries. But if everything was above board, why are the stories so different?
And then there’s the strange timing. Dr. Besigye was in Nairobi for a book launch hosted by Kenyan politician Martha Karua. Days later, he’s facing charges that could change his life forever. [When the drums of war beat, the wise man looks for the drummer]. But here, the drummer remains hidden.
As the drama unfolds, the truth is as elusive as a shadow at sunset. Is this a tale of cross-border cooperation or a messy cover-up? Only time will tell. For now, Dr. Besigye waits in custody, and we’re all left to wonder, “When the water is stirred, does the crocodile emerge, or does it hide?” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).