The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has dismissed allegations that it is detaining Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were reportedly abducted in Uganda earlier this month.
In a sworn affidavit, Col. Silas Kamanda, Director at the Joint Staff Legal Services, stated that extensive investigations had been conducted across all relevant UPDF detention facilities and records, but no trace of the two men had been found.
“We have carried out investigations and searched all relevant detention facilities, records, including lock-up registers and custody logs, and found no entry relating to the said Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi between October 1, 2025, and today,” Col. Kamanda said.
“We therefore confirm that they are not in the custody of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, and we do not know their whereabouts.”
The two activists were allegedly abducted on October 1 in Kampala by four armed men believed to be security agents. They had reportedly joined the campaign trail of opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Bobi Wine before being forced into a vehicle and disappearing shortly thereafter.
Bobi Wine has accused President Yoweri Museveni’s administration of perpetuating impunity and using abductions to silence critics. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he compared the incident to previous cases of missing activists.
“Like with comrade Sam Mugumya, who was abducted two months ago and remains missing, the shameless Museveni regime has also denied having our Kenyan comrades Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo in custody,” Bobi Wine wrote.
“A regime that came to power 40 years ago promising to end human rights abuses is now engaging in worse violations. We must end this impunity once and for all.”
Human rights organisations across East Africa have condemned the disappearances, calling for a transparent investigation and urging regional leaders to address the growing trend of enforced abductions and restrictions on free expression in Uganda.
The whereabouts of Njagi and Oyoo remain unknown, with their disappearance adding to mounting concerns about human rights and political freedoms in the country ahead of upcoming elections.
