OPPOSITION POLITICIAN CHARGED AFTER ABDUCTION

Dear President Museveni,

I am gravely concerned about the abduction of Ugandan opposition politician and former presidential candidate for the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Dr. Kizza Besigye, from Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, and his rendition to Uganda. His whereabouts were unknown, and he was unreachable until he was arraigned in a military court in Kampala, Uganda, on November 20, despite being a civilian. He was charged alongside FDC member Haji Obeid Lutale with offenses relating to security and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Dr. Besigye’s abduction is part of a wider pattern of increasing widespread repression. Based on the frequency by which Ugandan authorities wrongly bring charges against political opponents, there is also reason to be concerned that the charges against Dr. Besigye may be politically motivated.

I urge your government to immediately release Dr. Besigye due to the nature of his abduction, which was in clear violation of both international human rights law and the process of extradition with its requisite fair trial protections. I also urge your government to ensure a prompt, impartial, and effective investigation is carried out into Dr. Besigye’s abduction, and to bring those suspected of responsibility to account in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]