Two Kenyan activists missing in Uganda resurface after five weeks

Two Kenyan activists missing in Uganda resurface after five weeks

Two Kenyan human rights activists who vanished in Uganda five weeks ago have been found alive and are being transported to Nairobi, rights groups confirmed on Saturday. Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were last seen being forced into a vehicle by masked uniformed men following a political rally in support of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.

Activists confirmed safe

Vocal Africa, a regional activist organization, announced the men's safety via social media, stating they were en route from Busia, Uganda, to Kenya's capital. The group called for the incident to mark a turning point in protecting human rights across the East African Community.

Let this moment signal an important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere in East African Community.

Vocal Africa, Instagram post

Denials and diplomatic pressure

Ugandan police had previously denied holding the men, but Kenyan rights organizations-including the Law Society of Kenya and Amnesty International-pressured Ugandan authorities for their release. In a joint statement, the groups thanked both governments, activists, journalists, and citizens for their advocacy efforts.

Pattern of disappearances

The incident mirrors a troubling trend in East Africa, where activists and opposition figures frequently face abductions and secret detentions. Ugandan security forces have been accused of targeting critics without formal arrests, often resurfacing detainees in court on criminal charges.

Last year, Njagi himself was abducted in Kenya by masked men during a crackdown on government critics. He reappeared a month later after a court ordered his presentation, later describing isolation and deprivation in captivity.

Regional crackdowns

Earlier this year, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan counterpart Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania, held incommunicado, and allegedly subjected to brutal treatment, including sexual torture-claims Tanzanian police dismissed as "hearsay."

In 2023, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye disappeared in Nairobi, only to reappear days later in a Ugandan military court facing treason charges. The cases have fueled accusations of cross-border collaboration to suppress dissent.

Political context

Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned presidential candidate (real name: Robert Kyagulanyi), accused Ugandan authorities of targeting the Kenyans for their association with his campaign. Wine is challenging long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, 80, who has ruled since 1986.