Kenyan human rights activists have renewed calls for the release of detained Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye after activist Muteti Mulinge was found alive following his disappearance.
Muteti was found around 3am in the Lukenya area after he was reportedly left there.
He walked for a long distance before reaching a Shell petrol station, where a Good Samaritan helped him contact his brother.
Human rights activist and VOCAL Africa CEO Hussein Khalid said Muteti was weak, injured and disoriented.
He was taken to Sanel Hospital in Mlolongo for treatment, with his family, friends and fellow activists heading to the facility.
Muteti had been taking part in demonstrations over Besigye’s continued detention and treason charges in Uganda.
The protests have also focused on Besigye’s transfer from Nairobi to Uganda in November 2024, with activists questioning the circumstances surrounding his removal from Kenya.
Muteti’s disappearance added to concerns among the activists, who had been seeking information about his whereabouts.
Khalid said the activist’s return had provided relief to his family and colleagues, but questions remained over what happened to him between the time he disappeared and when he was found in Lukenya.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and injuries have not been fully established.
Activists are continuing to call for accountability over the treatment of human rights defenders and for the release of Besigye.
