Nairobi, May 22, 2025 — Kenya has officially acknowledged its involvement in the abduction and extradition of a Ugandan opposition leader from its territory, a revelation that has ignited regional controversy and prompted accusations of human rights violations and state misconduct.
The admission comes in connection with the 2023 disappearance of Dr. Isa Kigozi, a prominent critic of the Ugandan government and a senior figure in the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Dr. Kigozi was reportedly taken from a residence in Nairobi in what was widely believed to be a coordinated cross-border operation involving Kenyan and Ugandan security agents.
Kenya’s Ministry of Interior, in a statement issued earlier this week, confirmed that the operation had the knowledge and cooperation of Kenyan authorities, citing “regional security cooperation” as the basis for its actions.
“The government of Kenya acted in coordination with a neighboring state to address a matter of mutual security concern,” the statement read, without elaborating on the legal framework or justification used for the abduction.
The admission has triggered widespread criticism from human rights advocates, legal experts, and opposition politicians both in Kenya and Uganda. Dr. Kigozi’s lawyer, speaking to reporters in Kampala, condemned Kenya’s role, calling the country a “rogue state” for flouting international law and undermining asylum protections.
“This is a betrayal not just of our client’s rights, but of Kenya’s international obligations to uphold due process and protect individuals seeking refuge on its soil,” the lawyer said.
Regional and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project, have demanded a full investigation and called for accountability from both governments.
Legal analysts argue that Kenya’s actions violated several regional and international legal instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which prohibits arbitrary detention and unlawful rendition. Furthermore, no formal extradition request was processed through Kenya’s courts, raising concerns about a growing trend of extra-legal cross-border arrests in East Africa.
The incident has also raised tensions between civil society and Kenya’s security apparatus, which has been under increasing scrutiny over allegations of extrajudicial actions and cross-border operations.
Kenya’s Parliament is expected to summon top security officials to provide answers, while Uganda has remained largely silent, offering no comment on the fate or current status of Dr. Kigozi, who remains in detention without trial.
As the regional spotlight intensifies, observers say the case could set a troubling precedent for political dissidents across East Africa, raising fears about the safety of activists and opposition leaders seeking refuge across borders.
