By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Nairobi, Kenya – After a tumultuous week, Dr. Kizza Besigye’s property has finally been secured from Waridi Paradise Hotel in Nairobi.
The recovery of his belongings, including his passport, follows a lengthy and complex process involving Kenyan security operatives, hotel management, and a team of lawyers.
Dr. Besigye, a prominent Ugandan opposition leader, was kidnapped from the hotel on November 16, shortly after checking in to attend Hon. Martha Karua’s autobiography launch.
He was whisked away by Ugandan forces and taken into detention in Kampala.
In the aftermath of his kidnap, Kenyan security operatives from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought to access Dr. Besigye’s hotel room.
However, hotel management insisted on a court order, which was eventually secured, allowing the operatives to search the room.
Unfortunately, the security operatives failed to leave behind a search certificate, prompting a meeting between the hotel management, lawyers, and Dr. Besigye’s representatives.
An agreement was reached to release his property after executing an inventory and settling the accumulated hotel bills of KShs 85,000.
The recovery of Dr. Besigye’s property is a significant development, and his team has expressed gratitude to the lawyers and organizations involved in the effort.
These include the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Kenya, the East African Law Society, and the Pan African Lawyers Association (PALU).
Dr. Besigye’s lawyer, Erias Lukwago, who is also the president of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF), had traveled to Kenya to gather more information about his client’s kidnap and detention.
