The International Crimes Division of Uganda’s High Court has dismissed all charges of terrorism and treason against 36 members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
The group, arrested in Kenya and handed over to Ugandan authorities, had been accused of engaging in covert activities deemed subversive to Kenyan security forces.
According to the prosecution, on July 22 and 23, 2024, the group traveled to Kisumu, Kenya, to allegedly undergo terrorism training. They were remanded until August 13.
However, Dr. Kizza Besigye offered a different account. He stated that on July 23, the 36 FDC members traveled to Kisumu for a week-long leadership workshop. He added that the group had reportedly been cleared by both Ugandan immigration and security services.
“A few hours later, during the night, their residences at Ukweri Catholic Pastoral Centre in Kisumu were violently raided. Doors were broken, and all 36 individuals were brutally arrested by a combination of Ugandan security officers and the Kenyan military,” Dr. Besigye said.
He further claimed that their belongings, including computers and phones, were confiscated, and that several members were tortured and injured during and after their arrest. The group was allegedly driven back to Uganda that same night, bypassing official immigration procedures.
“They were detained in ‘safe houses’ operated by Uganda’s External Security Organisation (ESO), before being brought to Kololo grounds and paraded before the media as if they had been formally handed over by the Kenyan government,” Besigye continued.
The group has since been held at Naggalama Police Station in Mukono District. “They were lawfully invited into Kenya, entered legally, and the venue for their workshop was legally secured. Their arrest, deportation, and subsequent torture constitute gross human rights violations by both Ugandan and Kenyan government forces,” Dr. Besigye stated.
Details to follow
