Uganda Police Deny Holding Missing Kenyan Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo
The Uganda National Police (UNP) has denied claims that it is detaining Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, stating it has no information regarding their whereabouts. The statement comes amid growing concerns over the activists' disappearance, which has sparked condemnation from human rights groups and calls for diplomatic intervention.
During a press briefing on Monday, UNP Spokesperson ACP Rusoke Kituuma addressed the allegations, clarifying that the police have not received any formal report about the activists' status. He stated that he has no information indicating that Njagi and Oyoo are in police custody or facing any accusations. Kituuma further noted that he is unaware of any formal reports classifying the activists as missing persons, adding that he would share any relevant information if it were available.
Njagi and Oyoo have been missing since Wednesday, October 1, 2025, when they were allegedly forced into a van at gunpoint at a petrol station in Kireka township, just outside Kampala. The two had traveled to Uganda to join the campaign trail of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Bobi Wine ahead of the 2026 elections. According to a witness who was with them at the time, four armed individuals, including a woman in the front seat of a grey van, abducted the activists. The witness, who was briefly detained but later released, reported that the gunmen sped off, and the activists' phones were immediately switched off. The witness expressed distress, stating they were unaware of Njagi and Oyoo's current location or the police station to which they might have been taken.
The alleged abduction has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and political activists. Kongamano La Mapinduzi (KLM) condemned the incident as a blatant act of repression and an attack on democracy and political freedom. In a statement issued on Monday, KLM demanded the immediate release of Njagi and Oyoo, urging an end to the persecution of individuals supporting progressive movements, such as Bobi Wine's campaign. The group called for intervention from the Kenyan government, the East African Community, the African Union, and international human rights bodies to address the situation.
The Kenyan High Commission in Kampala, in a communique dated October 3, 2025, acknowledged receiving reports of the alleged abduction. The commission stated that it had formally requested Uganda's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with local authorities to establish the activists' status and secure their release and safe return to Kenya. Kenyan Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen emphasized the government's commitment to protecting its citizens worldwide, noting that the matter is being handled through diplomatic channels.
As concerns mount, the disappearance of Njagi and Oyoo underscores ongoing tensions surrounding political activism in the region, with calls for transparency and accountability growing louder.