For more than a month, two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were held in military custody in Uganda under unclear circumstances before finally being released and handed over to Kenyan authorities at the Busia border.
Their ordeal has drawn widespread concern over human rights violations and the growing threat to political freedoms across the region.
Reports indicate that their detention was linked to alleged political activities, and their release only came after weeks of diplomatic pressure and public outcry.
According to Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and current Chief of Defence Forces, was responsible for the activists’ detention.
Bobi Wine revealed that he had spoken directly with Njagi and Oyoo after their release. He said the two men described being held at Kasenyi military barracks, where they were interrogated about attending a political manifesto launch in Jinja.
The activists reportedly spent between 38 and 39 days in incommunicado detention, cut off from family and legal counse.
The revelation sparked strong diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Kampala. Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’Oei, confirmed that the two were received by the Kenya High Commissioner in Uganda before being formally handed over to officials at the Busia border.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi later confirmed that their release came after Kenya issued a formal protest letter to Uganda’s foreign minister.
He emphasized that the government had used every diplomatic avenue to ensure their safe return.
The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) initially denied holding the activists, a move that fueled anger among civil society groups and human rights defenders in both countries.
However, a habeas corpus order later forced Ugandan authorities to produce them, confirming fears that they had been secretly detained by the military. This development exposed the growing tension between Uganda’s security apparatus and regional calls for accountability.
Their disappearance had drawn strong condemnation from human rights groups, who accused Uganda of targeting activists and stifling dissent.
Many organizations called on East African governments to ensure that freedom of expression and movement are respected, warning that cases like this could discourage cross-border cooperation and activism.
The release of Njagi and Oyoo brought relief to their families but left many questions unanswered. Activists and lawyers are now pushing for a transparent investigation into how they were arrested, why they were held in a military facility, and who authorized the detention.
