Kenya Minute.
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Nairobi—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Kenyan press · Person

Kizza Besigye

Also known as: Dr. Kizza Besigye · Dr Kizza Besigye · Dr Besigye

Ugandan opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate detained in Uganda since November 2024 facing treason charges.

2026-05-052026-09-16

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. Capital News

    He further pointed to the November 2024 abduction of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye while he was visiting Nairobi.

    Gachagua warns Kenya ‘not safe’ for foreigners, cites cross-border abductions, deportations
  3. The Standard

    untry was no longer a safe refuge for critics fleeing their countries citing the June 24, 2024, forceful return of 36 Ugandan opposition members who were in Kisumu county for a meeting.Other incidents are, the November 16, 2024, abduction of Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye

    Gachagua: Ruto has presided over lawlessness and anarchy
  4. Citizen Digital

    In November 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was kidnapped in Kenya and taken to a military court in Uganda, where he is facing treason charges.

    South Sudan whistleblower abducted in Kenya released after two months
  5. The Standard

    Amnesty has previously warned that Kenya -- long considered a refuge for dissidents in a repressive east African region -- was increasingly complicit in allowing neighbouring countries to abduct their citizens.In November 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was kidnappe

    S.Sudan graft whistleblower abducted in Kenya freed after two months
  6. Citizen Digital

    Uganda opposition leader Besigye 'very weak' and unable to speak: wife By AFP August 04, 2026 08:29 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Uganda's veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye (C) reacts as he speaks i

    Uganda opposition leader Besigye 'very weak' and unable to speak: wife
  7. July 2026
  8. Capital News

    Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in the capital, Kampala, after collapsing and losing consciousness during his treason trial, his wife has said.

    Veteran Ugandan opposition leader collapses in court and in ICU, his wife says
  9. Citizen Digital

    Ugandan opposition leader Besigye in intensive care: wife By AFP July 30, 2026 02:28 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Opposition leader Kizza Besigye stands in a steel dock at the Uganda Military General Cou

    Ugandan opposition leader Besigye in intensive care: wife
  10. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeJailed Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was taken to hospital again on Wednesday after collapsing in court, his wife said.

    Besigye hospitalised after collapsing in court
  11. Citizen Digital

    In 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi and forcibly returned to Uganda, where he is facing treason charges that he says are a farce.

    East Africans find fragile refuge in Kenya as repression soars
  12. June 2026
  13. Citizen Digital

    On Tuesday, a Kampala court will hear the long-standing treason charges against opposition leader Kizza Besigye, held in detention since his abduction from Kenya in 2024.

    Uganda dissidents on trial as president's son increases grip

Thursday 3 September

  1. Karua criticises Museveni's prolonged detention of Besigye

    Kenya's Martha Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party, has condemned Uganda President Yoweri Museveni's government over the prolonged detention of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his former lawyer Erias Lukwago, citing deteriorating health concerns and restricted access.

    3 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. EAC integration must include respect for law and justice

    Lawyer Muthoni Mburu has argued that East African Community member states should match their rhetoric on regional cooperation with respect for their own constitutions and justice systems. She cited the case of Ugandan opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, who was seized from Nairobi in November 2024 and returned to Uganda to face treason charges, saying such actions violate legal principles.

    3 September 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 2 September

  1. Besigye's health crisis raises questions over Kenya involvement

    Dr Kizza Besigye, a veteran Ugandan opposition leader and four-time presidential candidate who arrived in Nairobi in November 2024, has experienced a health crisis that raises questions about Kenya's involvement.

    2 September 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Kenyan activists plan protests over Ugandan opposition leader Besigye

    Kenyan activists have vowed to stage nationwide demonstrations on September 3, 2026, demanding answers over the alleged illegal rendition of Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and calling for his immediate release, medical evacuation, and a full inquiry into alleged cross-border repression.

    1 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Activists accuse Kenya of illegal rendition in Besigye case

    Ugandan and Kenyan activists blamed Kenya for opposition figure Kizza Besigye's plight, saying his abduction in November 2024 during a Kenya visit circumvented the country's Extradition Act. They called for an independent investigation and protests in Nairobi, with rights groups saying Besigye's health is deteriorating as he faces treason charges in Uganda.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 27 August

  1. Uganda's military chief declares 2031 presidential bid

    General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda's military chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, announced he will run for president in 2031, saying he aims to succeed his father who has ruled since 1986. Kainerugaba, 52, previously indicated he would contest the 2026 election but withdrew from that race.

    27 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Uganda succession battle: Museveni's son challenges brother-in-law for power

    Uganda's army chief and son of President Yoweri Museveni, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has vowed again to run for president as speculation grows over succession after Museveni's four-decade rule. The 52-year-old faces a challenge from a brother-in-law amid growing palace intrigue.

    27 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Uganda succession battle heats up within ruling family

    Uganda's army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni, has vowed to run for president in 2031, but faces competition from his brother-in-law Odrek Rwabwogo, who is quietly gathering support within the bureaucracy as a reformer candidate.

    27 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Wife denounces Uganda opposition leader's trial as farce

    Winnie Byanyima, wife of jailed Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, condemned the continuation of his treason trial while he was bedridden and unable to attend, calling it a "farce." Besigye, 70, was abducted in Kenya in 2024 and has been in custody facing charges over an alleged plot against President Yoweri Museveni.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 15 August

  1. Karua accuses Ruto of using goons to suppress opposition

    People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has accused President William Ruto of using goons to suppress opposition and settle political scores, urging him to leave office if he has lost Kenyan support. Karua claimed the Kenya Kwanza administration sponsors attacks on opposition rallies and deploys goons alongside police to disrupt protests and assault demonstrators.

    15 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 11 August

  1. Gachagua warns foreigners unsafe in Kenya amid alleged abductions

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused the Ruto administration of allowing cross-border abductions, forced deportations, and alleged transnational repression, warning that foreigners and investors are not safe in Kenya and calling on foreign embassies to protect their citizens and staff. Gachagua cited cases including the alleged July 2024 forced return of 36 Ugandan opposition supporters and the October 2024 abduction of seven Turkish asylum seekers, four of whom he said were forcibly deported to Turkey in a joint security operation.

    11 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Gachagua accuses Ruto of presiding over lawlessness, anarchy

    DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of presiding over lawlessness and anarchy, claiming Kenya has witnessed a total breakdown of law and order with goons taking over the legal mandate of the National Police Service.

    11 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 10 August

  1. South Sudan whistleblower released after two months in Kenya

    Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, a 51-year-old South Sudanese-Kenyan whistleblower, was abducted at gunpoint from a Nairobi casino and transferred to a military facility in Juba, where he was held for two months before being released on August 8. His family said investigations found no wrongdoing, and he is now receiving treatment in Kenya after his health deteriorated during detention.

    10 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. South Sudanese whistleblower freed after two-month detention in Juba

    Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, 51, a South Sudanese-Kenyan whistleblower abducted at gunpoint from a Nairobi casino, was released August 8 after being held at a military facility in Juba for nearly two months. His family said investigations found no wrongdoing and that his health deteriorated during detention.

    10 August 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 4 August

  1. Uganda opposition leader Besigye hospitalized after court collapse

    Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, who is on trial for treason, collapsed during a court hearing on July 30 and was admitted to intensive care in Kampala. His wife said he is conscious but "very weak" and unable to speak.

    4 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 30 July

  1. Ugandan opposition leader Besigye collapses in court, admitted to ICU

    Kizza Besigye, a 70-year-old Ugandan opposition leader who has been in detention since November 2024, collapsed and lost consciousness during his treason trial in Kampala. He was rushed to an intensive care unit, where his wife reports he is unconscious and unresponsive.

    30 July 2026 · Capital News

  2. Ugandan opposition leader Besigye admitted to intensive care

    Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, 70, who has been in custody facing treason charges, collapsed during a court appearance on Wednesday and was admitted to intensive care at Mulago Hospital in Kampala. His wife said he is unconscious and unresponsive.

    30 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Ugandan opposition leader Besigye hospitalised after courtroom collapse

    Jailed opposition figure Kizza Besigye collapsed in court on Wednesday and was taken to hospital in Kampala, according to his wife. Besigye, 70, faces treason charges over an alleged plot against President Museveni and has now been hospitalised three times since his detention.

    30 July 2026 · The Standard

Monday 20 July

  1. East Africans flee to Kenya amid post-election repression

    Dozens of Ugandans and Tanzanians are hiding in neighbouring Kenya after recent elections triggered mass arrests, kidnappings, and murders in their countries. Refugees report knowing between 20 and 40 others who have fled to Kenya in recent months, though many live in fear of cross-border abduction.

    20 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 30 June

  1. Uganda dissidents face trial as president's son expands power

    Trials of two Ugandan government critics are resuming Tuesday as General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the 52-year-old son of President Yoweri Museveni and head of the army, intensifies a crackdown on activists and independent media. Analysts say he has become the dominant force in the country in recent weeks, with repeated statements that he intends to succeed his 81-year-old father.

    30 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Uganda's military chief intensifies crackdown on government critics

    General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the 52-year-old son of President Yoweri Museveni and head of the army, has ordered the arrest of leading activists and politicians in recent weeks and shut down the main independent media group. Trials of two government critics, including opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his lawyer Erias Lukwago, were set to resume, with analysts saying Kainerugaba has become the dominant force in the country.

    30 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 26 June

  1. Amnesty condemns Uganda detention and deportation of Kenyan lawyer Karua

    Amnesty International condemned the detention and deportation of Kenyan human rights lawyer Martha Karua by Ugandan authorities on June 22, describing the incident as "unlawful and outrageous." Karua, part of the legal team representing detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, was arrested at Entebbe International Airport, held incommunicado, and later deported; Amnesty said the action violated regional legal protections and reflected a pattern of intimidation targeting Besigye's defence team.

    26 June 2026 · Capital News

  2. Martha Karua detained at Uganda airport; EAC principles questioned

    Senior Counsel Martha Karua was detained at Entebbe International Airport while travelling to defend opposition figures in Uganda's courts. The Standard editorial argues the incident and similar treatment of Kenyan lawyers in neighbouring EAC states undermine the bloc's stated principles, noting Kenya opens its courts to lawyers from other EAC members while its own advocates face restrictions.

    26 June 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 25 June

  1. Martha Karua deported from Uganda, second regional expulsion this year

    Kenyan lawyer and political leader Martha Karua was denied entry to Uganda and forced to return to Nairobi after interrogation and phone confiscation, marking her second deportation in a year—she was similarly expelled from Tanzania in May 2025 while attempting to observe an opposition trial. Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces claimed responsibility for declaring her persona non grata as she travelled to support a case involving a Ugandan opposition figure.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 24 June

  1. Ugandan court denies bail to opposition lawyer Erias Lukwago

    A Ugandan court denied bail to Erias Lukwago, a politician and lawyer, who was charged with failing to report a treason-related plot hatched in neighbouring Kenya between 2021-2024. Lukwago, who represents opposition leader Kizza Besigye, faces up to life imprisonment if convicted and denies the charges.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ugandan court denies bail to opposition lawyer Lukwago

    A Ugandan court denied bail to Erias Lukwago, a lawyer and politician representing opposition leader Kizza Besigye, after he was charged with failing to report a treason-related plot hatched in Kenya between 2021–2024. Lukwago denies the charges and faces up to life imprisonment if convicted.

    24 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Uganda CDF claims responsibility for deporting Martha Karua

    Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba said he personally ordered the deportation of Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, and that she would no longer be allowed entry into the country. Karua had travelled to Uganda as part of a delegation attending a bail hearing for advocate Erias Lukwago.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Uganda's CDF Muhoozi says he deported Martha Karua

    Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba says he personally decided to deport Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from the country, and that she will no longer be allowed entry into Uganda.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Uganda army chief claims personal responsibility for Karua deportation

    Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba claimed he personally ordered the deportation of Kenyan senior counsel Martha Karua, distancing his father President Yoweri Museveni from the decision. Karua was travelling to Uganda to attend court proceedings related to opposition leader Kizza Besigye, where she serves on his legal team, but was detained and deported upon arrival.

    23 June 2026 · Capital News

  4. Karua condemned after detention during Uganda court case

    Martha Karua, leader of the People's Liberation Party and part of opposition leader Kizza Besigye's legal team, has condemned what she describes as her unlawful detention and deportation from Uganda while attempting to attend court proceedings linked to Besigye's case.

    23 June 2026 · Capital News

Kizza Besigye — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute