Today in History: Kizza Besigye's Four-Year Exile Begins

Twenty-two years ago today, on August 17, 2001, Dr. Kizza Besigye vanished from his home in Kampala under mysterious circumstances. This disappearance came just months after Besigye had mounted a significant challenge to President Yoweri Museveni in the March presidential election, ultimately finishing second.

The nation was abuzz with speculation, with many fearing that state security agencies had detained or abducted him. His wife, Winnie Byanyima, had officially reported him missing, intensifying these concerns.

In the lead-up to his disappearance, Besigye had experienced increased surveillance and faced restrictions on his movement. He was notably intercepted by security forces while traveling in Lukaya.

Ten days after his vanishing act, on August 28, Besigye resurfaced via an interview with Voice of America. He disclosed that he had successfully evaded state intelligence and had left Uganda, first traveling to the United States before eventually settling in South Africa.

Besigye explained his decision to flee was driven by serious threats to his personal safety and fears of political persecution. He alleged that the government was attempting to link him to rebel groups and a series of bomb blasts in Kampala, accusations he vehemently denied as fabricated grounds for his arrest.

His absence from Uganda lasted for four years. During this period of exile, his political supporters formed the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), which grew to become a prominent opposition party. Besigye eventually returned to Uganda in October 2005, preparing to once again contest the presidency against Museveni in the 2006 elections.

Source: Nile Post