Lobby groups to hold protest on Friday over Besigye detention

Human rights lobby groups have announced plans to hold protests in Nairobi on Friday, February 21, to push for the release of Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and other political detainees in Uganda.

This comes at a time when Besigye's health condition is deteriorating after going on a hunger strike a week ago.

In a joint statement, the lobby groups claim that a fresh wave of abductions and forceful arrests of government critics have emerged in Uganda, allegedly sanctioned by President Yoweri Museveni's administration.

"As of yesterday, there was a brazen abduction, and overnight there were four abductions, all of them violent, but the one that has made it to the press is that of Fred Nyanzi, who was abducted by gunmen," Lawyer Andrew Karamagi, a member of the group's legal team, said during a press briefing in Nairobi.

Led by Amnesty International, they have announced a plan to match the Ugandan Embassy in Nairobi peacefully.

Besigye, who has been on hunger strike for a week, was returned to prison on Monday after being taken for treatment on Sunday night.

His lawyer, Erias Lukwago wrote on Facebook that the 68-year-old was rushed to a private medical facility in a prison ambulance as his health was deteriorating.

Tuesday marked the 18th day since the Supreme Court ruled that trying civilians in military courts was unconstitutional, declaring that Besigye be tried in a civilian court. The Ugandan Martial Court is, however, yet to heed the ruling.

Besigye was forcefully arrested on November 16, when he visited the Kenyan Capital to attend the launch of a book by Kenyan opposition politician Martha Karua.