Two Kenyan activists were allegedly abducted in Kampala, Uganda, on October 1 shortly after attending a political rally for opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine. The victims, Bob Njagi, chairman of the Free Kenya Movement, and Nicholas Oyoo, the group’s secretary-general, were reportedly seized at a petrol station by armed men believed to be Ugandan security officers.
The two had been in Uganda since September 29, joining Wine’s campaign events across Buyende and Kamuli districts. According to an eyewitness, “They were just taken. Four armed men in a grey van, even a woman was with them. They didn’t identify themselves. They just grabbed Bob and Oyoo and sped off.”
How Did the Abduction Happen?
Witnesses say Njagi and Oyoo were last seen around 3 p.m. Wednesday, after which their phones went silent. A colleague who had been briefly detained and released has avoided reporting the incident to authorities out of fear of retaliation.
Video footage from Wine’s rally earlier in the day showed Njagi on stage alongside the opposition leader before joining campaign activities. This is not Njagi’s first encounter with such dangers; in 2023, he disappeared for over a month after being picked up during anti-government protests in Kenya.
Bobi Wine strongly condemned the incident, stating: “We strongly condemn the abduction by armed operatives, of Kenyan activists and human rights defenders Bob Nyagi and Nicholas Ayoo. The two were picked up mafia-style this afternoon from a petrol station in Kireka and driven off to an unknown destination!”
He further added: “We condemn the continuing lawlessness by the rogue regime and demand that these brothers are released unconditionally! The criminal regime apparently abducted them simply for associating with me and expressing solidarity with our cause!”
The abduction has amplified concerns about shrinking democratic space in Uganda ahead of the 2026 presidential election, where President Yoweri Museveni is expected to seek re-election after nearly 40 years in power.
This is not an isolated case. Earlier this year, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania before being abandoned near the border.
As of now, neither the Ugandan nor the Kenyan government has released an official statement on the whereabouts of Njagi and Oyoo. Supporters and colleagues remain desperate for answers. As one witness expressed: “I don’t know which police station he has been taken to. I honestly don’t know where he is as we speak right now. I’m just stranded here.”
By Yockshard Enyendi
