Two Kenyan human‑rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were detained in Uganda for 38 days, spent one week in a military hospital under the supervision of Ugandan security forces before being moved to a safe house and subsequently released.
The activists were reportedly seized on 1 October 2025 near Kampala while supporting opposition political activities. Following their disappearance, authorities initially denied holding them, leaving families and supporters anxious about their whereabouts. Their sudden detention drew criticism from human-rights groups and intensified diplomatic pressure from Kenya.
According to sources close to the families, Njagi and Oyoo required medical attention due to poor conditions during the first week of confinement, which necessitated hospitalization under strict military supervision. After their release from the hospital, they spent three additional days in a safe house before being handed over to Kenyan authorities late on 7 November 2025.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni later confirmed that his security agencies had detained the two, alleging that they were involved in plotting unrest in Uganda. The revelations, however, have sparked serious concerns about enforced disappearances, denial of due process, and the treatment of detainees in the country.
The incident has also prompted responses from Kenyan political leaders and human-rights organizations. Efforts to secure the activists’ release included diplomatic engagement and public campaigns highlighting the legality and ethical obligations of cross-border human-rights protections.
Upon their return to Kenya, both activists are expected to undergo medical rehabilitation and share further details of their ordeal, shedding light on conditions in Ugandan detention facilities and the treatment of political activists.
Human-rights advocates argue that the case underscores the need for stronger regional oversight, protection of activists, and adherence to international human-rights laws to prevent such detentions in the future.
“This is a worrying precedent for activists operating in East Africa. Governments must ensure that political dissent is not criminalized and that all detainees receive fair treatment,” said one human-rights expert.
The case of Njagi and Oyoo continues to attract national and international attention, highlighting the tensions between political freedoms and state security measures in Uganda and the broader region.