By Michelle Ndaga
The Ugandan government has denied holding Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were allegedly abducted by armed men in military uniforms in Kampala’s Kireka suburb on October 1, 2025.
The two activists were reportedly in Uganda to support opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) during his campaign activities. Following their disappearance, a habeas corpus application was filed in the High Court of Uganda, seeking their release or disclosure of their whereabouts.
However, in an official response filed by Colonel Silas Kamanda of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the army stated that “Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi are not in the custody of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and we do not know their whereabouts.” The affidavit, submitted through the Attorney General’s Chambers, indicated that investigations and searches across all military detention facilities yielded no record of the two men since October 1.
The court-ordered habeas corpus deadline, which was extended by 48 hours, expired on Tuesday without the activists being produced or located.
Human rights organizations in Kenya and abroad have condemned the incident, describing it as a case of enforced disappearance. They have called for immediate accountability from Ugandan authorities and for international intervention to ensure the safe return of Njagi and Oyoo.
The activists’ families and legal representatives have expressed growing concern for their safety, urging both the Kenyan government and the East African Community to intervene.
