A coalition of Kenyan human rights organisations has petitioned the Ugandan government to explain the disappearance of two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who went missing in Kampala on October 1 while monitoring a political rally for Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
The petition, spearheaded by groups such as Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya, and the Free Kenya Movement, was submitted through Uganda’s Office of the Attorney-General. The organisations are demanding a transparent investigation into the activists’ disappearance, immediate access to legal counsel, and communication with their families. They are also calling on Ugandan authorities to disclose the circumstances surrounding the men’s detention.
According to eyewitnesses, Njagi and Oyoo were abducted near a petrol station in Kampala and forced into an unmarked vehicle. Since then, their whereabouts remain unknown. Uganda’s police have denied holding the two men, a claim that has raised further concern among human rights advocates.
Kenyan activists argue that this case reflects a disturbing trend of cross-border abductions and enforced disappearances targeting government critics across East Africa. They have criticised both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments for their silence, especially at a time when Kenya is mourning the loss of veteran leader Raila Odinga, saying the tragedy has overshadowed the activists’ plight.
“It has now been over 20 days since they were abducted. This is a grave violation of their fundamental rights under both Kenyan and international law,” said one of the petitioners.
The coalition is urging Kenya’s government to intervene diplomatically to ensure the safety of its citizens working in neighbouring countries. They warned that failure to act could embolden further human rights violations in the region and undermine freedoms of expression and association.
In Uganda, a habeas corpus petition has been filed in the High Court in Kampala, seeking to compel authorities to either produce the missing activists or account for their whereabouts within seven days. The court is expected to review the matter amid growing regional and international concern.
Back home, the families of Njagi and Oyoo continue to plead for answers. They have held several vigils and press briefings demanding justice, with Njagi’s mother saying, “Each day that passes without any word from them deepens our pain and fear. We just want them back alive.”
As the two governments face mounting pressure, regional observers have said the case will be a major test of East Africa’s commitment to protecting civil liberties and upholding international human rights standards.
Image by Opinio Juris
