Kenyan medical professionals are planning to stage a protest demanding the release of Ugandan opposition leader and medical doctor, Kizza Besigye. Besigye was allegedly abducted in Nairobi in November 2024, and is currently detained under court trial.
Besigye, who is a respected physician, is known for his outspoken opposition to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
Why are Kenyan doctors protesting over Kizza Besigye's detainment?
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In a letter seen by Nilepost, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), together with Amnesty International Kenya, served Central and Kileleshwa Police Stations with a formal strike notice.
The letter, signed by KMPDU Secretary General Davji Bhimji Atellah and Amnesty International Kenya Director Irungu Houghton, detailed plans for peaceful demonstrations on Monday, February 24.
The demos are aimed at pressuring Ugandan authorities to release Besigye and other political prisoners, including Hajj Obeid Lutale and Eron Kiiza.
"Under the freedom accorded under Article 37, we write to formally notify your office of our intention to hold an assembly," the letter said in part.
The protest will begin with a procession from Aga Khan Walk down Harambee Avenue to the National Assembly, followed by another demonstration at the Ugandan High Commission in Kileleshwa.
Organisers emphasised that the protests would be peaceful and orderly, requesting police presence to ensure the safety and security of participants.
Kenyan medics are rallying in solidarity with Besigye, not only because of his political activism but also due to his status as a fellow medical professional. Besigye, a qualified physician, has been a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights in Uganda.
The doctors argue that Besigye's arrest and trial is politically motivated, aimed at silencing opposition voices.
Where will the demonstration take place?
According to the strike notice, the protest will take place in two parts. In the morning, participants will march from Aga Khan Walk down Harambee Avenue to the National Assembly.
The purpose of this procession is to present a petition to the Chairperson of the National Assembly Committee on Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, urging intervention in Besigye's case.
The afternoon session will see protesters moving from Riverside Square along Riverside Drive to the Ugandan High Commission in Kileleshwa.
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Here, they will deliver a petition to the Ugandan High Commissioner, demanding the release of Besigye and other political prisoners.
Human rights group Amnesty International Kenya has expressed full support for the protest, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding political freedoms and human rights.
The planned protest has the backing of several rights organisations including Independent Medico-Legal Unit (IMLU), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) - Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Kizza Besigye charged with treason
A Ugandan magistrates' court charged Besigye with treason, dismissing his lawyer's request for him to be moved to a hospital to recover from ill health linked to a recent hunger strike.
The 68-year-old critic of Museveni appeared frail and in a wheelchair during the court session in Kampala. He had been briefly hospitalised over the weekend, and officials earlier expressed concern about his worsening health.
Besigye called off his hunger strike which began on February 12 to protest his detention but ended it on Friday after his case was moved to a civilian court. This followed a Supreme Court ruling on January 31 that declared trying civilians in military courts unconstitutional.
