Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have publicly shared the harrowing details of their 38-day detention in Uganda, which they described as taking place at a Ugandan military facility. The two were abducted on November 1, 2025, shortly after attending a campaign rally for Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.
Their disappearance sparked widespread concern from human rights organizations and civil society groups, leading to diplomatic intervention from Kenya. After weeks of public outcry and diplomatic pressure, Njagi and Oyoo were released on November 7.
Torture and Inhumane Conditions
During a press conference on November 12, 2025, at Mageuzi Hub in Nairobi, Njagi recounted the brutal treatment they endured while in detention. He claimed that senior Ugandan military officials were involved in their abduction and mistreatment, including blindfolding, chaining, and physically abusing them during interrogations.
“I was tortured on the second day during interrogation. I was removed from a cell blindfolded, taken to a room, and chained to a chair with one hand,” Njagi said. He also alleged that the officers assaulted him while demanding information about his contacts and reasons for visiting Uganda.
Njagi further claimed that they were denied medical care during their detention and only given paracetamol to alleviate their suffering.
“They gave us paracetamol so that we could heal quietly for those 38 days that we were in that place,” he said, referring to the inadequate medical attention provided.
Degrading and Unhygienic Conditions
The activists also described the inhumane and unsanitary conditions they were forced to endure. Njagi revealed that they were kept in a “very undignified environment” with nothing but a tin for relieving themselves.
Oyoo, who was held in isolation for the entire duration, described the conditions as “a mess,” noting that he was deprived of sunlight or fresh air. “It was a mess there, but after 14 days, we were removed at about 6 or 6.30 pm and we were not told where we were going,” Oyoo said, adding that they were eventually driven to the Busia border and released.
Enforced Disappearances and Diplomatic Engagement
Their forced disappearance led to a public outcry, with human rights defenders and civil society groups in the region expressing deep concern over the increasing pattern of enforced disappearances in Uganda.
Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened diplomatically, engaging Ugandan authorities through official channels, which eventually led to the duo’s release. However, Njagi and Oyoo claimed that they met other detainees while in custody and estimated that several others are still held under similar conditions.
Njagi also called on the Ugandan authorities to release the remaining detainees, urging greater transparency and accountability in the country’s security operations.
Political Freedoms and Human Rights in Uganda
The activists’ account has reignited debate over political freedoms and human rights in Uganda, with advocacy groups calling for a more transparent approach from the government. Ugandan authorities had initially denied knowledge of the activists’ whereabouts. However, President Yoweri Museveni later acknowledged their arrest during a live interview, referring to them as “experts in riots” who had been “put in the fridge for some days.”
This acknowledgment has further fueled concerns about the shrinking space for political dissent and the treatment of opposition figures in Uganda. Human rights groups are calling for urgent reforms to safeguard political freedoms and protect the rights of citizens, especially activists, who often find themselves subjected to arbitrary detention and abuse.
The ordeal of Njagi and Oyoo serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for human rights and political freedoms in Uganda, as well as the challenges activists face in advocating for change under oppressive regimes.