Six days after two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were abducted in broad daylight in Kampala, Ugandan authorities have broken their silence, sparking renewed concern over the rise of cross-border abductions in the East African region.
Uganda Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, while addressing journalists, denied that the missing individuals were in police custody.
“Kenyan activists who came to join a rally in Uganda and are alleged to have disappeared — I am not briefed by police that they have them in our custody,” Rusoke said.
“At the moment, I don’t have any information to the effect that they are in police custody, nor do I have any information that they are accused by police. If I had, I would volunteer it here without any reservation.”
Rusoke added that police had not received any official report regarding the disappearance of the two men.
“I also don’t know if it has been reported formally that they are lost or missing persons. I don’t have that information,” he said.
Even as police maintained their denial, two Ugandan lawyers accompanied by human rights activists filed a habeas corpus application at the High Court’s Civil Division in Kampala, seeking to compel authorities to produce the missing Kenyans in court.
The application names the Chief of Defence Forces, the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security, the Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of Uganda as respondents.
The petitioners allege that the two activists are being held at an intelligence facility in Mbuya.
Ugandan lawyer Kato Tumusiime linked the arrests to political suppression.
“We believe these people were abducted because they had come to show solidarity with an opposition presidential candidate,” Tumusiime said.
“The Museveni government is fearful of such solidarity. It is now a regional problem affecting East African Community members.”
Human rights activist James Ssuna warned that the incident reflected a growing regional trend of repression.
“We believe this is a trend that cannot be ignored. East African leaders have gone ahead to threaten our existence — they are not only arresting politicians and farmers, they are also targeting activists,” he said.
In Nairobi, the families of the two missing Kenyans, joined by human rights groups, condemned both governments, describing the disappearances as a systematic attack on civilians and a violation of East African Community principles.
Nobert Ochieng, Oyoo’s brother, urged authorities to act swiftly.
“We call upon the government of Uganda to disclose their whereabouts and release them without delay. We also call upon the government of Kenya to assert its diplomatic responsibility and secure their release,” he said.
Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa, said the detention violated both Ugandan and international human rights law.
“LSK, Vocal Africa and Amnesty International Kenya express concern that despite public outrage and ongoing diplomatic engagement, the two remain held incommunicado — a blatant violation of Ugandan and international human rights law,” he stated.
Later, the families and activists met with Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei, who assured them that the Kenyan government is actively pursuing efforts to secure the release of the two missing nationals.
