The families of activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are still searching for answers a week after the two were abducted in Kampala, Uganda. Despite growing pressure from the government, human rights groups, and relatives, their whereabouts remain unknown, leaving their loved ones in distress and fear.
The uncertainty surrounding their disappearance has caused great concern among those who believe the two might have been targeted for their activism.
On Tuesday, the families, together with several human rights activists, visited the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to file formal complaints and push for stronger government intervention.
They urged the commission to open a full investigation into the incident and engage with Ugandan authorities to secure the activists’ release.
Members of Oyoo’s family, along with Koffi Atinda, who narrowly escaped the abduction, recorded statements at the KNCHR offices and shared their frustrations over the slow pace of progress.
Oyoo’s brother, Nobert Ochieng, expressed disappointment that even after meeting with government officials, there seemed to be little movement in the case.
He said that they had spoken to the Principal Secretary the previous evening but were still waiting for concrete updates.
According to him, every day that passes without news from the missing men deepens their family’s anguish. He added that their elderly mother, aged seventy-four, had fallen ill due to the stress of her son’s disappearance, and Bob Njagi’s mother, who had already been hospitalized before the incident, had also become worse since the abduction.
Elsie Oyoo, another family member, appealed for justice and transparency, saying that if there was any accusation against Nicholas or Bob, then the authorities should follow due process and bring them before a court instead of keeping their families in the dark.
Her plea reflected a growing frustration among relatives and human rights advocates, who have accused both governments of failing to act decisively.
So far, diplomatic communication between Nairobi and Kampala has not yielded any positive outcome. The Ugandan police have denied having the two men in their custody, adding confusion to an already tense situation.
Lawyer John Maina, who has been following the case closely, emphasized that it was time for both Kenya and Uganda to be honest with the public and reveal the truth about what really happened.
In Uganda, a habeas corpus case has been filed in the High Court by a team of lawyers and activists demanding that the authorities produce Njagi and Oyoo in court.
The case is scheduled to be heard on October 14th. Meanwhile, Uganda Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke maintained that there was no official record of the activists being detained, saying he was not aware of any accusations against them or any formal report linking them to criminal activity.
Hope remains their only comfort. However, the disappearance of the two activists has drawn attention to a worrying trend in the region.
In Tanzania, the family of former ambassador Humphrey Polepole is also demanding his release after he was allegedly abducted from his home in Dar es Salaam. Polepole, a once close ally of President Samia Suluhu, had recently become one of her outspoken critics, raising fears that political repression may be spreading beyond one border.
The unresolved cases of Njagi, Oyoo, and Polepole have stirred unease across East Africa, as the growing danger faced by activists and opposition voices.
For now, their families can only hope that justice will prevail and that those missing will soon return home safely.
