Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have been released by Uganda after 38 days in detention. They were abducted in Uganda while attending an event by opposition leader Bobi Wine. Their release followed intense diplomatic negotiations between Kenya and Uganda.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were abducted in Uganda on October 1, 2025, while attending Bobi Wine's manifesto launch in Jinja. They were held by military officers under a special command, with reports accusing General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni, of orchestrating the detention. The activists were kept at Kasenyi military barracks and interrogated about their reasons for visiting Uganda.
Njagi's family disclosed that Uganda imposed stringent conditions for their release, including written promises that Njagi would not return to Uganda to campaign against Museveni's administration until after the January elections. Negotiations were tense, with Ugandan officials demanding assurances from intermediaries. His father, Frank Njagi, said: “We were told that the intention was to keep them in custody until after the elections. We had to promise that once released, he would never go back to Uganda to campaign for President Museveni’s opponents.”
The release was confirmed by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who noted that Kenya had written to Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Odongo Abubakar. Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei stated: “Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are free and on Kenyan territory. Late last night, after lengthy engagements, the two were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda.” They were escorted by Ambassador Joash Maangi to the Busia border, where they were received by Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga on November 7, 2025, at night.
Groups including Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and Vocal Africa welcomed the release, thanking the Kenyan and Ugandan governments and former President Uhuru Kenyatta for their cooperation. Njagi recounted: “We had been abducted by the military, who kept us under a special unit. We never knew we would make it back home.” They were medically checked at Busia County Referral Hospital and found to be in good health. The UPDF initially denied holding them, but a habeas corpus court order had been issued.
The incident sparked diplomatic tensions and calls for human rights protections in the region.
