Uganda's Minister for ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi has said the Kenyan government was aware and played a role in the arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigye in Nairobi.
Speaking on Friday, November 22, the minister said the Government of Uganda was in touch with Kenya's government before Besigye's arrest.
Baryomunsi stated it would be impossible to apprehend and transport Besigye to Uganda if Kenyan authorities were not aware.
"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 through the airport or even if it was by land without the full knowledge and support of the State," he said in an interview with NBS Television.
On Thursday, the Department of State's Bureau of African Affairs said it was looking into reports of Besigye's alleged abduction in Kenya.
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In a statement, the body said circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping of the opposition leader must be clarified with transparency.
"We are closely following reports on the abduction and transnational rendition of civilian political figures Kizza Besigye and Obed Lutale from Kenya to Uganda. It is important that the circumstances be clarified with transparency and full legal protections," the statement read.
Besigye was in Kenya for Martha Karua's book launch before he was forcefully placed under police custody and transported to a military jail in Kampala.
According to Karua, he arrived in Nairobi on Saturday, November 16, and checked into the Waridi Paradise Hotel and Suites.
Besigye then left the hotel with a taxi driver for a meeting at 108 Riverside Apartments, Apt. No. C1102 never to be 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.
"Kizza Besigye was scheduled to attend and speak at Hon. Martha Karua’s book launch on Sunday, the 17th of November, where he was a no-show. We suspect that Dr. Bessigye 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," Karua said.
