Kenyan Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo Released After 38 Days in Ugandan Custody

Busia, Kenya – Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, have been freed after more than a month of detention in Uganda, where they were allegedly abducted by security forces.

The pair was handed over to Kenyan authorities at the Busia border late last night, marking the end of a high-profile case that sparked diplomatic tensions and widespread calls for their release from civil society groups across East Africa.

Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Barasa confirmed the handover, stating that Njagi and Oyoo were released by Ugandan officials and safely transferred to Kenyan custody.

The activists, associated with the Free Kenya Movement, had been missing since October 1, when they were reportedly seized in Kampala while attending a political rally for Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.

Their disappearance drew sharp criticism from human rights organizations, who described it as an enforced disappearance and demanded accountability from Ugandan authorities.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Amnesty International Kenya, and Voices of Community Activists and Leaders Africa (VOCAL Africa) issued a joint statement welcoming the release, noting it came after 38 days of incommunicado detention.

“We extend our appreciation to their families, Free Kenya Movement colleagues, human rights defenders, journalists, the ministries of foreign affairs in Kenya and Tanzania, and all active citizens who have tirelessly campaigned for this moment,” said LSK President Faith Odhiambo in the statement.

The case highlighted ongoing concerns over cross-border abductions and human rights violations in the region.

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei had previously expressed frustration with Uganda’s handling of the matter, with Nairobi pressing Kampala for answers amid reports that the activists were held without charges or access to legal counsel.

Ugandan courts played a central role in the saga: On October 23, a High Court judge dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Njagi and Oyoo, ruling there was insufficient evidence that the state held them in custody.

This decision fueled outrage, with activists accusing Ugandan security forces of operating with impunity.

Eyewitness accounts and social media reports detailed the abduction, with the activists allegedly taken from a fuel station in Kireka, Kampala, by armed men in uniform and forced into a van. Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire, who has closely followed the case, noted that the pair had not been produced in court or held in any official detention facility for weeks, echoing patterns of enforced disappearances in the country.

Pressure mounted through protests, petitions, and diplomatic channels.

In Nairobi, families of the activists held press conferences demanding their unconditional release, while Kenyan MPs and civil society groups petitioned parliament to summon Sing’oei for an explanation.

Opposition figures in Kenya, including Willis Evans Otieno, criticized the Kenyan government’s response as inadequate, arguing that a state unable to protect its citizens abroad undermines its own legitimacy.

The release is seen as a victory for regional advocacy, with groups like the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Amnesty International urging it to signal a broader commitment to upholding human rights within the East African Community.

Njagi and Oyoo are now en route to Nairobi, where they will reunite with family and supporters.

VOCAL Africa and LSK have pledged to facilitate their safe return and monitor for any further developments.

Ugandan officials have not yet commented on the release, and questions remain about the circumstances of their detention.

Activists warn that without accountability, such incidents could erode trust between Kenya and Uganda, two key partners in East African integration.

This story will be updated as more details emerge.