Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were detained by Ugandan security forces for over a month after disappearing in early October.
The two were reported missing on October 1, 2025, after travelling to Kampala to support opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. They were allegedly abducted by armed men in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, sparking outrage from human rights groups and Kenyan authorities.
Njagi and Oyoo were released on Saturday, November 8, and handed over to officials at the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda, following sustained diplomatic efforts between Nairobi and Kampala.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed their release, crediting it to “open and constructive communication” between the two governments.
“This outcome reflects the effectiveness of sustained diplomatic engagement between Kenya and Uganda that has culminated in the safe release of our nationals,” Mudavadi said in a statement.
In a radio interview on Saturday evening, President Museveni admitted that the activists had been in Ugandan custody, accusing them of collaborating with Bobi Wine to incite unrest.
“We have very good intelligence. We know them. We arrested two Kenyans who were working with Kyagulanyi’s group. They are experts in riots,” Museveni said.
The Ugandan leader further alleged that foreign actors were interfering in Uganda’s affairs, claiming they sought to undermine the country’s stability and exploit its natural resources.
“They are worried about Uganda’s progress. Our industries are growing, we have food, raw materials, and we are about to get our oil. That’s why they are very worried,” he added.
After their release, Njagi and Oyoo recounted harrowing experiences, alleging torture and starvation during their detention at Kasenyi Military Barracks in Entebbe.
“We were held by the special forces in military detention. I didn’t eat for 14 days. We were tortured,” Njagi told reporters upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
Their claims contrast sharply with earlier denials by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), which had stated on October 22 that the pair were not in its custody.
At the time, Col. Silas Kamanda, Director at the UPDF Joint Staff Legal Services, swore an affidavit asserting that investigations found no record of Njagi and Oyoo being held by the army.
The incident has sparked renewed scrutiny of Uganda’s handling of foreign activists and its record on human rights and political freedoms, particularly regarding its treatment of opposition supporters linked to Bobi Wine’s movement.
