Besigye abduction saga: Mudavadi says Kenya, Uganda working to resolve the matter

Days after the Ugandan government revealed that they coordinated with Kenyan authorities in the abduction of Uganda's opposition Leader Kizza Besigye, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has now called for mutual respect and understanding between the two neighbouring countries.

During the press briefing on Kenya’s 60-year diplomatic journey at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mudavadi said the abduction of Besigye should not be used harshly to Judge Kenya's foreign policy.

He noted that Nairobi and Kampala are working to resolve the underlying issues and enhance their bilateral ties.

"As much as we're open as a country, we also believe that our friends and visitors appreciate that it is important that we maintain good relations with all our partner states," stated Mudavadi, who is also the Prime CS.

Besigye was arrested in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, when he was set to attend a book launch hosted by NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua.

Days later, the opposition leader was arraigned in a Ugandan military court to answer for charges on possession of firearms and ammunitions.

The incident painted Kenya in bad light, with critics questioning Kenya's role in Besigye's abduction.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei, however, downplayed the speculations and emphasised that Kenya was not aware of Besigye's presence in the country. 

"The circumstances surrounding his travel are not known to us because no information was shared with us before he travelled," the PS said on Citizen TV's JKLive show on November 20, 2024.  

"We do not know which hotel he was booked to or which apartment he stayed and therefore we were not in a position to necessarily provide him with certain additional security."

His remarks were contradicted by Uganda's Minister for ICT Chris Baryomunsi who claimed that both governments were in touch during the operation. 

"Dr Kizza Besigye was arrested and the government of Uganda was in touch with the government of Kenya otherwise how would you arrest somebody in the middle of Nairobi and then bring him back to Uganda either through airport without full knowledge and support of the state there in Kenya," he said during an interview on Uganda's NBS TV.