The United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee has released a statement regarding the kidnapping and arrest of prominent Ugandan opposition politician Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Senator Jim Risch, a ranking member of the Committee, has slammed Kenya and Uganda for the arrest of the politician.
Risch said the two countries are partners of the US and Besigye’s kidnap raised serious concerns since it goes against the international norms.
The Senator added that the situation is troubling considering President Joe Biden Administration’s strong stance against such acts.
“Uganda’s abduction of an opposition leader in Kenya raises serious questions about important U.S. partners violating int’l norms like sovereignty, respect for human rights & rule of law,” Risch said.
“This is especially concerning given the Biden Admin’s rhetoric about transnational repression.”
Besigye was kidnapped on Saturday, November 16, while in Nairobi for a book launch by Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua.
Besigye is reported to have been abducted by Ugandan security officials at an apartment in Nairobi.
Civil groups and politicians across the world have accused President William Ruto’s administration of facilitating the alleged ‘kidnapping’ by President Yoweri Museveni’s government.
On Wednesday, he was presented before a Court Martial and charged with being in possession of a firearm in Kenya.
Meanwhile, as criticism mounts on Kenya and Uganda, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei explained that investigations were ongoing to determine what transpired in the alleged ‘kidnapping.’
“The Kenyan interior ministry has begun an investigation into how Besigye has been forcefully removed from premises in our country and taken to Uganda,” he stated while on an interview on Citizen TV.
