Winnie Byanyima meets President Ruto to discuss Kizza Besigye’s detention

Winnie Byanyima, wife of detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye, met Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During the meeting, Byanyima raised concerns regarding Besigye’s abduction in Nairobi in November 2024 and his subsequent detention in Uganda.

Byanyima called on African leaders to defend human rights and the rule of law, specifically addressing the political persecution of Besigye. She also expressed support for President Ruto’s role as the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing of Medical Products.

The meeting has drawn criticism from some Kenyan observers who questioned Byanyima’s decision to engage with Ruto while the circumstances of Besigye’s transfer from Kenya to Uganda remain a point of contention. Besigye was reportedly taken from Nairobi and later appeared before a Ugandan military court.