Kenyan Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo Reportedly Abducted in Kampala

Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were reportedly abducted on Wednesday in Kampala, Uganda, by unidentified armed men.

The incident took place in the Kireka suburb, where the two had stopped to repair their vehicle. A third companion, who was briefly detained and later released, said four armed individuals arrived in a grey van and forcibly took Njagi and Oyoo. 

Their mobile phones were switched off shortly after, and their location remains unknown. Njagi and Oyoo, both members of the Free Kenya Movement, had travelled to Uganda to support opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign activities. 

They were seen earlier in the week participating in rallies in the Buyende and Kamuli districts, where Njagi appeared publicly with Wine and his supporters. Bobi Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, condemned the abduction and described it as a politically motivated act. 

He called for the immediate release of the activists, accusing state-aligned actors of targeting individuals based on political association. The reported abduction follows a series of similar incidents across East Africa involving activists and opposition figures. 

In November 2024, Ugandan politician Kizza Besigye disappeared while in Nairobi and later reappeared in a Ugandan military court facing treason charges. In a separate case, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania and later found near their respective borders. Both alleged they were mistreated while in custody.

The cross-border nature of these incidents has raised concerns among civil society organisations about coordinated efforts by regional authorities to suppress dissent. Vocal Africa and other advocacy groups have called for urgent action to determine the whereabouts of Njagi and Oyoo and to ensure their safe return.

Neither the Kenyan nor the Ugandan governments have issued official statements on the matter.