Besigye Carried Two Loaded Pistols to Nairobi Meeting, Court Hears

Andrew Wilson, a British-American national also known as Orlando, informed a court that Dr. Kizza Besigye arrived at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on November 16, 2024, carrying two loaded pistols.

Wilson stated that he and an associate were disturbed by Besigye’s decision to bring the weapons. He personally unloaded the firearms, citing concerns about their maintenance and the safety of those present at the Riverside Apartments meeting.

The purpose behind Besigye bringing the guns to the gathering remains a point of confusion for Wilson. The meeting reportedly also involved discussions about the alleged disciplining of Joel Wakhayima, who had previously accompanied Besigye to other meetings.

There was a prevailing belief that Wakhayima might have leaked information regarding training activities in Kisumu, where 36 Ugandans had been apprehended earlier. The Nairobi meeting, which lasted approximately one hour and 50 minutes across two audio recordings, is also believed to be the event during which Besigye was arrested.

During the arrest, Wilson recounted a brief confrontation with Kenyan police but managed to leave without being detained, while his associate stayed behind. However, Wilson did not elaborate on how he later retrieved the recording devices seized by Kenyan authorities after the arrest.

Earlier, Wilson had informed the court that a video recording of the event was lost during the altercation. While the audio recording device continued to function after the arrest, the recordings do not feature Besigye or Obeid Lutale expressing any dissent.

Lutale, whom Wilson met for the first time at this meeting and was introduced as a contact if Besigye was unavailable, is only heard at the beginning of the recordings exchanging greetings. Wilson is scheduled for further questioning on September 15, with lawyers representing Lutale expected to conduct a significant part of the cross-examination.

Source: Nile Post