Human rights groups are demanding the immediate release of Uganda’s opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, lawyer Eron Kiiza, and Hajj Obeid Lutale.
The organisations, including Amnesty International and the Law Society of Kenya, are calling on the public to join a protest march to the Uganda High Commission in Nairobi on 21 February to submit a petition for justice.
The trio was abducted from Nairobi on November 16, 2024, before resurfacing at a General Court Martial in Kampala on November 20, where they were charged with security offences and unlawful possession of firearms.
These developments have sparked outrage, particularly as Uganda has failed to comply with a Supreme Court ruling from January 31, 2025, which declared that civilians should not be tried in military courts.
“We call on the Ugandan authorities to respect the Supreme Court decision and immediately free Kizza Besigye, Haji Obeid Lutale, Lawyer Eron Kiiza and others unlawfully detained,” said Roland Ebola, Regional Researcher at Amnesty International. He added that urgent action is needed to prevent harm to the detained individuals.
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Human rights groups also want an independent review of all cases involving civilians in military courts, demanding an end to the prosecution of civilians by military tribunals.
“We call on the Ugandan authorities to promptly, thoroughly, impartially, effectively, independently, and transparently review all cases of civilians on trial in the General Court Martial,” said Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa.
The groups are also calling for an investigation into alleged death threats against Dr Besigye and the abduction of the two men from Nairobi, which has raised concerns about Kenya’s involvement in transnational repression.
“We call on the Ugandan authorities to promptly investigate death threats against Kizza Besigye by Muhoozi Kainerugaba,” said Maria Sarungi Tsehai of the Change Tanzania Movement.
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