The High Court has today, Monday, September 29, 2025, given the Attorney General 14 days to file a formal response in a high-profile case filed by Ugandan opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye, challenging his controversial deportation from Kenya late last year.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, following complaints from Besigye’s legal team, led by veteran politician and lawyer Martha Karua, that the Attorney General had failed to respond for over two months since the case was filed.
Although the AG’s office had requested an additional three weeks, the judge declined, noting that sufficient time had already passed without action.
Background: Dramatic Arrest and Deportation.
Besigye was allegedly abducted in Nairobi on Saturday, November 16, 2024, while attending the launch of Martha Karua’s memoir, Against The Tide. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, reported him missing shortly after the event. He was later confirmed to have been deported to Uganda, where he remains in custody under a military court ruling.
Besigye and fellow activist Obed Lutale face charges of illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and conspiracy to overthrow the Ugandan government — charges they have repeatedly denied.
A former personal physician to President Museveni, Besigye has become one of the most prominent opposition voices in Uganda. He has previously endured multiple arrests and alleged state persecution.
Potential Fallout for Kenya
Legal experts say the case could have serious implications. If the court finds that Besigye’s removal from Kenya constituted an unlawful abduction or forced transfer, the Kenyan government could be held accountable for violating domestic laws and international human rights treaties.
Such a ruling could expose Kenya to legal liability, including possible compensation claims for unlawful detention and complicity in political persecution.