Uganda's High Court has dismissed a habeas corpus petition seeking to force the government to produce two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, missing for over 20 days. The court stated there was no evidence of state custody and classified them as missing persons. This follows an earlier court order to produce them, dead or alive, within seven days.
Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have been missing since October 1, 2025, when they were abducted in Kampala while attending a political campaign at a petrol station. They were in Uganda for a meeting with National Unity Platform presidential candidate Bobi Wine, the main opponent to incumbent President Yoweri Museveni in the upcoming general elections. They were seized in Kaliro District, eastern Uganda, and are suspected to be held at a military detention facility in Mbuya, Kampala.
The habeas corpus petition argued that under Ugandan law, a person arrested must be brought before a court within 48 hours, yet the activists had not appeared in any courtroom since their detention. The Ugandan National Police (UNP) denied any involvement in the abduction after five days of speculation.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Kinobe stated: “It is therefore my finding that the respondents have complied fully with the directives of courts as relates to this application and the orders issued pursuant to this application. In the circumstances, I find it unnecessary to issue any additional orders as prayed for by the applicant. In the circumstances, I dismiss this application with no mention as to costs.” He added: “I would therefore categorise the applicants as missing persons. I would advise counsel for the applicants to commence these investigations by filing a missing person's report with the Uganda Police Force.”
The Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued a statement saying they had sought details on the whereabouts of Njagi and Oyoo. Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei confirmed that Kenya's Mission in Uganda had taken up the matter with local authorities. To date, the governments of Kenya and Uganda have yet to provide a joint statement on their status. Human rights group Freedom Hive Uganda confirmed the court's orders.
This development may impact bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly on human rights and political cooperation.