Mudavadi admits Kenya’s involvement in the extradition of Kizza Besigye to Ugandan authorities
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has admitted that Kenya was indeed involved in the controversial extradition of Ugandan opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye to Ugandan authorities.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Mudavadi confirmed that Kenya cooperated with Ugandan authorities to arrest and deport Besigye, who was in the country to attend PLP party leader Martha Karua’s book launch.
Mudavadi stated that the decision to hand over Besigye was made in the spirit of cooperation and respect for diplomatic ties between Kenya and Uganda.
“Kenya cooperated with Ugandan authorities. Uganda is a friendly nation. If there are issues they feel require attention, we listen,” Mudavadi said, emphasising the strong bilateral relationship the two nations share.
He went on to clarify that Besigye was not seeking asylum in Kenya at the time of his arrest, as many Kenyans thought.
According to Mudavadi, had Besigye formally notified Kenyan authorities of an asylum request, the situation could have been handled differently.
“He had not come to say that he was seeking asylum. Had he said that, maybe the treatment would have been different,” Mudavadi explained.
Kenya’s trade relations with Uganda
Defending the government’s actions, Mudavadi underscored the importance of safeguarding Kenya’s economic interests.
He noted that Uganda is Kenya’s largest trading partner, with many Kenyan jobs and livelihoods dependent on the stability of that relationship.
“Uganda is Kenya’s largest trading partner. Many lives and jobs depend on that relationship. The same goes for Tanzania. So we have to be cognisant of the national interest. What would happen to Kenya’s economy if there were no more trade between Kenya and Uganda?” he posed.
Despite public criticism and what Besigye is currently going through, Mudavadi distanced himself and Kenya from any responsibility for Besigye’s current legal troubles in Uganda.
“I don’t take responsibility, and Kenya can’t take responsibility because that is a process that is going on in Uganda under the authority of the Ugandan government,” he stated.
Kiza Besigye’s abduction while in Kenya
This comes months after Kizza Besigye was abducted in Nairobi on November 16, 2024, while attending Martha Karua’s book launch.
He was forcibly taken to Uganda, where he appeared in a military court on November 20, 2024, and was charged with security-related offences and illegal possession of firearms.
Ever since his abduction and detention in Uganda, Besigye has been behind bars, with him presented before the civilian court on February 21, 2025, where he was charged with treason after a Supreme Court ruling that deemed charging civilians in military courts unconstitutional
