Nairobi, (UG):- Veteran Ugandan opposition figure, Dr Kizza Besigye Kifefe is reportedly missing in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, DailyExpress understands.
The four-time presidential candidate and founder of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)was reportedly last seen on Saturday, November 16, 2024, when he left his home at Kasangati in Wakiso district to check on a patient at one of the hospitals in Kampala.
A source, highly close to the veteran politician disclosed to this publication that Besigye was destined to travel to Kenya with somebody who seemed very anonymous to them, but they thought it was for political reasons.
“He sent us a message indicating that he has arrived, but we have not heard from him since. His phone and that of the person he travelled with are off,” said one of the people close to Besigye.
Local daily Monitor exclusively reported that Dr Besigye was last seen in the affluent Riverside neighbourhood of Kenya’s capital Nairobi, where he had reportedly travelled for a meeting with unidentified individuals.
Yet another source, who asked not to be named because they have not yet decided to go public, said they are still inquiring from the government of the United Kingdom and the United States whether he has arrived there.
“We are still inquiring about his whereabouts and also discussing how to proceed,” the source said.
A trace on the politician’s social media activity showed that he last posted on his X handle congratulating the Uganda Cranes for qualifying for the 2026 African Nations Cup five days ago, posing a quite unusual pattern as he rarely takes a day without posting developments in the country on his social media.
Besigye’s disappearance comes amid heightened tensions following the recent arrest of several FDC officials in Kenya. But Ingrid Turinawe, a former leader of the FDC Women’s League and ex-legislator, suspects foul play in Besigye’s missing.
“This kidnap will not leave you in your usual comfort zones. Just be rest assured you must handle him with care and make sure you produce him when he is alive!”
Besigye, a staunch critic of President Yoweri Museveni recently co-founded the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) after falling out with the current leadership of the Najjanankumbi FDC faction over the management of party affairs.
It remains unclear if Besigye’s missing is linked to his political comeback to contest the 2026 presidential election under the PFF ticket.
Authorities in both Kenya and Uganda, plus leaders of either FDC factions were yet to comment on the incident by the time of filing this story.
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