Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has addressed the controversial arrest and deportation of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi, distancing the Kenyan government from any responsibility in the matter.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Mudavadi said Besigye’s brief visit to Kenya in November 2024 raised “unclear” issues, prompting his removal and return to Uganda. He emphasized that Kenya merely cooperated with Ugandan authorities and that the opposition figure had not sought asylum, which would have warranted a different course of action.
“I don’t take responsibility, and Kenya cannot take responsibility because that is a process going on in Uganda,” Mudavadi stated. “He came here, and there were issues. He had to go. The manner in which he came was not quite clear, and certain issues were beginning to evolve.”
Besigye, a vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni and a four-time presidential candidate, has long faced political repression in Uganda. His arrest in Kenya and subsequent transfer sparked public outcry, with human rights groups and opposition supporters condemning the move as a breach of international asylum and human rights standards.
Mudavadi maintained that Kenya acted in line with diplomatic obligations and national interest, reiterating that there was no formal request from Besigye for asylum. “Had he said that, maybe the treatment would have been different,” he added.
In February 2025, Besigye appeared in a Ugandan court facing treason charges. Reports indicated he was frail, using a wheelchair after a prolonged hunger strike. He also faced military court charges for allegedly possessing pistols and attempting to procure weapons—accusations he denies.
Uganda’s Supreme Court later ruled it unconstitutional for military courts to try civilians, a decision that infuriated President Museveni, who publicly criticized the ruling and vowed to appeal it.
The Besigye saga has reignited discussions on cross-border political cooperation, the rights of political dissidents, and Kenya’s role in regional diplomacy. As pressure mounts from civil society and rights watchdogs, the Kenyan government faces scrutiny over its handling of politically sensitive foreign visitors.
