Ugandan Opposition leader detained in Military Jail after he was abducted in Kenya

A prominent Ugandan opposition figure who vanished last week while in Kenya reappeared on Wednesday in a Ugandan military court, where he faced security-related charges, according to his wife and Ugandan authorities.

Kizza Besigye, a former Ugandan presidential candidate, was allegedly “kidnapped” on Saturday in Nairobi while attending a book launch hosted by a Kenyan politician, his wife, Winnie Byanyima, shared on social media. Ms. Byanyima did not provide details on how or by whom Mr. Besigye was abducted but revealed that he had been detained in a military prison in Kampala without access to his family or legal counsel.

“He is not a soldier. Why is he being held in a military jail?” questioned Ms. Byanyima, who serves as the executive director of UNAIDS, the United Nations program on HIV and AIDS. Later that day, Mr. Besigye appeared in a military court in Kampala, flanked by security personnel and displaying a V-sign gesture, as shown on public and private television broadcasts. He, along with an associate, Haji Obeid Lutale, was remanded to prison on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, as detailed in a charge sheet obtained by The New York Times.

Authorities accused Mr. Besigye, Mr. Lutale, and others still at large of holding meetings in Switzerland, Greece, and Kenya over the past year to seek logistical support and identify military targets in Uganda, allegedly threatening the security of the Defense Forces. Both Mr. Besigye and Mr. Lutale denied the allegations.