The emotional return of Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nick Oyoo has brought to light troubling details about the 39 days they say they spent in Ugandan military detention. Their arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Saturday afternoon marked the end of a period defined by fear and silence.
The two men appeared frail and shaken as they described the harsh conditions they allegedly faced at the Kasenyi Military Barracks in Entebbe, where they claim they were held incommunicado by Uganda’s military special forces.
Njagi struggled to recount what happened, saying he went for two weeks without food and endured severe abuse.
“We were in military detention by the special forces. I didn’t eat for 14 days. We were tortured,” he said, fighting back tears. Their families, waiting anxiously at the airport, were overwhelmed with relief when the activists walked through the arrival gates.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Photo Courtesy: File
Human rights defenders who accompanied them said the moment was emotional for all involved. Nick’s mother expressed her gratitude with a simple but powerful statement “God has done it, and we thank God for what He has done.”
The arrival of Njagi and Oyoo also prompted strong reactions from human rights organizations. Representatives from Amnesty International, Vocal Africa, and the Kenya Human Rights Commission warned that what happened to the activists was part of an alarming trend in the region. Irene Soile of Amnesty International said, “We are afraid that if these trends witnessed in Tanzania and Uganda continue, human rights violations will be more rampant.” Her remarks underscored concerns that repression was becoming more common across East Africa.
Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa, emphasized that the fight for justice had only begun.
“The long journey for justice now begins. If we remain silent, oppressive regimes will come for us. We are calling on citizens of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to unite an attack against one country is an attack against all of us,” he said.
His warning highlighted the growing fear that abuses in one nation could easily spill into others if not challenged.
Amnesty International later revealed that releasing the activists required high-level diplomatic efforts. Felix Wambua of the Free Kenya Movement explained the significance of this intervention, stating,
“Without the intervention of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, I don’t know if we would have managed.”
According to officials, Ugandan authorities handed Njagi and Oyoo over to the Kenyan High Commission in Kampala on Friday night. Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga then received them at the border, confirming they were back on Kenyan soil.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei also announced their return, saying, “Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are free and on Kenyan territory. They were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, after lengthy engagements.”
The activists were reportedly abducted on October 1, 2025, while attending Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform campaign events.
Their disappearance led to an international outcry, with human rights groups and the Kenyan government demanding answers.
The ordeal has revived concerns about cross-border security operations, with previous allegations suggesting that Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, personally ordered their detention.
