Nairobi activists to stage protests on Monday demanding Kizza Besigye's release

Besigye was abducted in Nairobi in November 2024 and later resurfaced in Uganda, where he was initially arraigned before a military court.

His case was subsequently transferred to a civilian court, where he faces charges including treason and misprision of treason.

The activists are condemning the reported abduction on Kenyan soil and calling for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his transfer to Uganda.

They are also raising concerns over what they describe as growing political repression targeting opposition figures and human rights defenders across the East African region, while demanding accountability from security agencies implicated in such cases.

The development comes a day after the Ugandan High Court heard evidence linking Besigye's case to alleged meetings and activities in Kenya, including Nairobi and Kisumu.

Besigye is jointly charged with his aide, Hajji Obeid Lutale, and Uganda People's Defence Force officer Captain Denis Oola, also known as Denis Oola Ooya. The three have denied the allegations.

The prosecution alleges that between 2023 and 2024, the three participated in meetings in Uganda, Kenya, Greece and Switzerland as part of a plan to overthrow President Yoweri Museveni's government by force of arms.

The prosecution's case has featured recordings allegedly captured during meetings involving Besigye and his associates.

The court heard that the Ugandan government spent Ksh.59.32 million to have some of the recordings transcribed into written evidence.

The recordings, lasting two hours, 29 minutes and three seconds, were contained on a flash disk submitted by Uganda's Criminal Investigations Directorate.

The prosecution alleges that Besigye, Lutale and Captain Oola participated in meetings in Uganda and abroad as part of a plan to raise funds, acquire weapons and organise activities aimed at overthrowing the government.

Treason is a capital offence in Uganda and carries a maximum sentence of death upon conviction.