The former president of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Kiiza Besigye, has condemned the charges placed against FDC activists from the Katonga faction who were arrested in Kenya and subsequently deported to Uganda last week.

Besigye made these remarks on his X platform, saying he received information that the activists were charged with terrorism, yet they were lawfully invited into Kenya and entered Kenya lawfully.

According to Besigye, the place where the activists were to hold their workshop was legal; however, they were arrested, deported, and tortured, and other human rights violations were committed by the government forces of both Uganda and Kenya.

“On July 23, 2024, our 36 FDC colleagues traveled to Kisumu for a week-long leadership session. They were cleared by Uganda immigration and security, but a few hours later (during the night), their homes at the Ukweri Catholic Pastoral Centre in Kisumu were viciously attacked, doors destroyed, and everyone brutally arrested,” Besigye stated.

He further added that Kenyan and Ugandan forces confiscated their properties, including computers and phones.

On July 22, 2024, a group of 36 supporters of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)-Katonga faction were arrested in Kenya and subsequently deported to Uganda. On July 29, 2024, they were arraigned in Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of terrorism and have been remanded until August 13, 2024.