Abduction and Detention

Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have recounted a harrowing 38-day period of detention in Uganda, where they allege they were abducted, tortured, and held incommunicado in a military facility. The two men, associated with the Free Kenya Movement, were reportedly seized by armed men on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, in Kampala shortly after attending a manifesto launch for Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Their disappearance triggered widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and sparked a diplomatic row between Nairobi and Kampala.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, following their release, the activists described their abduction as a violent ambush. "A vehicle arrived carrying about eight fully armed men who surrounded us and forced us into the vehicle," Njagi stated during an interview. For weeks, the Ugandan government denied any knowledge of their whereabouts, even after a habeas corpus application was filed in a Kampala High Court. The court subsequently declared them "missing persons," stating there was no evidence linking their disappearance to the state.

Conditions of Confinement

Njagi and Oyoo described the conditions of their detention as brutal and dehumanizing. They were held in what President Yoweri Museveni later termed a "fridge," which Njagi clarified was a freezer-like environment designed to isolate detainees. "We were beaten, blindfolded, chained to chairs, held in dark rooms never reached by sunlight, and only had porridge and beans for food. Paint tins were our toilets," Njagi recounted. He detailed being tortured during interrogation on the second day, chained to a chair while soldiers beat him and demanded to know his funders and purpose for visiting Uganda. Oyoo reported being held in isolation for the entire 38-day period without access to sunlight or fresh air. Both men stated they were denied proper medical care, receiving only painkillers for their injuries.

Diplomatic Intervention and Release

After weeks of public outcry and sustained diplomatic pressure from the Kenyan government, the two were finally released on the night of Friday, November 7, 2025. Kenya's Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Dr. Korir Sing'oei, confirmed their release via a statement on Saturday, November 8, 2025, stating it followed "long discussions between the two governments." The activists were handed over to Kenya's High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, and escorted to the Busia border, where they were received by Kenyan officials. The release was welcomed by numerous human rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), who had tirelessly campaigned for their freedom.

Uganda's Position and Regional Implications

In a significant reversal, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni admitted on Saturday, November 8, 2025, that his government had arrested the activists. He described them as "experts in riots" who had been put "in the fridge for some days" for allegedly advising the Ugandan opposition on staging demonstrations. Museveni stated their release came after he received calls from Kenyan leaders. This incident has cast a harsh spotlight on the state of human rights and the shrinking civic space within the East African Community. It raises critical questions for Kenya regarding the safety of its citizens in neighboring countries and the mechanisms for protecting their rights under the EAC treaty. The Law Society of Kenya has called the moment a potential "important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere within the East African Community." Njagi and Oyoo have announced their intention to pursue legal action, signaling a continued fight for justice and accountability.