Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, are currently missing after being reportedly abducted in Uganda on October 1, 2025. The two men were attending a political campaign rally for opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine in Kampala when armed men seized them at a petrol station in Kireka, a suburb of the Ugandan capital.
Eyewitnesses say the activists were stopped under the pretext of a car issue by four armed individuals, some dressed in police uniform and others in civilian clothes. The men forcibly bundled Njagi and Oyoo into a vehicle and drove off to an unknown destination. Immediately after the abduction, their mobile phones were switched off, and their whereabouts remain undisclosed.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are human rights defenders affiliated with the Free Kenya Movement, a civil society group advocating for civic freedoms. Both have a history of activism and have been involved in defending human rights in Kenya and across the region. Their presence at Bobi Wine’s campaign rally in Uganda was part of a broader solidarity effort supporting the opposition presidential candidate, who is challenging Uganda’s long-time incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, strongly condemned the abduction. He labeled it a “mafia-style” kidnapping orchestrated by what he described as a “rogue regime.” He accused the Ugandan government of targeting the two Kenyans purely for their association with his campaign, calling for their immediate and unconditional release. The National Unity Platform (NUP), Bobi Wine’s political party, alongside various human rights organizations, have demanded transparency and accountability over the incident.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Amnesty International Kenya, and VOCAL Africa issued a joint statement condemning the abduction, calling it a grave violation of international human rights norms and regional civic freedoms. The statement emphasized that abducting Kenyan citizens on foreign soil, especially while engaged in peaceful political activity, is unlawful and undermines regional cooperation within the East African Community. They called on the Kenyan government and its High Commission in Uganda to urgently intervene and on Ugandan authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the two activists, ensure their safety, and grant them consular access.
Kenyan government officials and civil society leaders have expressed concerns over the pattern of enforced disappearances and politically motivated abductions in East Africa, fearing increasing cross-border repression intended to silence dissenters. Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary has indicated that the government plans to intervene diplomatically to secure the release and safety of Njagi and Oyoo. Kenyan Senator Samson Cherargei also called on Ugandan authorities to act decisively, insisting that peaceful cross-border activism should not be treated as a threat or met with violence.
The Ugandan police have distanced themselves from the incident, with spokesperson Kituma Rusoke stating the two activists are not in police custody and suggesting inquiries be directed to other security agencies. This response has been met with skepticism, as previous incidents involving opposition figures and activists in Uganda have included secret detentions and lack of transparency from security agencies.
This abduction comes at a time of heightened political tension in Uganda, with Bobi Wine mounting a significant challenge to Museveni’s decades-long rule. The incident has intensified concerns about political repression, targeting of opposition supporters, and violation of democratic freedoms in the country and the region.
In conclusion, the disappearance of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo after attending Bobi Wine’s rally in Uganda represents a serious human rights violation and has attracted condemnation from regional and international human rights organizations, political leaders, and Kenyan authorities. The case underscores the fragile political climate in East Africa where activists face risks crossing borders to support democratic movements. Calls for urgent and transparent investigations, the activists’ immediate release, and respect for civic freedoms have become central demands in the wake of this incident.