Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were arrested and held by Ugandan security forces for more than a month. The pair, who had been missing since October 1, 2025, were finally released on November 8 after what Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi described as a “sustained diplomatic engagement” between the two countries.
Njagi and Oyoo had travelled to Kampala to support opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, before they were reportedly abducted by armed men in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District. Their disappearance sparked diplomatic tension between Nairobi and Kampala until their eventual handover to the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda.
Why Did Uganda Arrest the Kenyan Activists?
Speaking during a radio talk show on Saturday evening, President Museveni said the two Kenyans were detained for collaborating with his political rival Bobi Wine in efforts to incite unrest.
“Here we have very good intelligence… we know them. We have got two Kenyans whom we arrested. They have been with us, I have their names… But I don’t remember them. They came, and they were working with Kyagulanyi’s group. They are experts in riots,” said Museveni.
He went on to accuse unnamed foreign elements of attempting to destabilize Uganda due to its growing economic and industrial strength.
“They are worried about Uganda. Uganda is moving, very strong… industries growing. We don’t lack anything, we have all the food, all the raw materials, industrial products… we are now going to get our oil, so they are very worried,” Museveni added.
What Did Njagi and Oyoo Say After Their Release?
Upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the two activists shared harrowing accounts of their detention, claiming they were held at Kasenyi Military Barracks in Entebbe under the Special Forces.
“We were in military detention by the special forces. I didn’t eat for 14 days. We were tortured,” said Bob Njagi.
Their claims contradict an earlier statement from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), which on October 22 denied holding them. In an affidavit, Col. Silas Kamanda, Director at the Joint Staff Legal Services, insisted that investigations had found no record of the activists being in army custody.
The incident has since drawn attention to the strained relations between the two East African neighbors and renewed concerns about the treatment of political activists across borders.
By Lucky Anyanje