For over a month, the fate of two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, remained shrouded in uncertainty. Their sudden disappearance in Uganda after attending a rally for opposition leader Bobi Wine sparked worry not only among their families but also within diplomatic circles across East Africa. Now, following weeks of tense negotiations and a rare admission from one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, the pair have returned home—bringing with them harrowing accounts of their ordeal and igniting a broader debate about political freedoms in the region.
According to the Associated Press, Njagi and Oyoo were seized by armed men on October 1, 2025, shortly after participating in a political event in Kampala. The rally was organized by Bobi Wine, the entertainer-turned-politician who has become Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s most prominent challenger ahead of the January 2026 general election. Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has repeatedly claimed he was cheated in the 2021 election—a sentiment that continues to fuel political tensions in Uganda.
For days, the Ugandan government denied any involvement in the activists’ disappearance. Their families in Kenya, meanwhile, were left in the dark, growing increasingly desperate as each day passed without word. It wasn’t until early November that the truth began to emerge. President Museveni confirmed the activists’ arrest, accusing them of collaborating with the opposition to unseat him and labeling them as “experts in riots.” In his words, as reported by the Associated Press, “They came, they were working with Kyagulanyi’s group, (and) they are experts in riots.”
The activists’ release on the night of November 8, 2025, came after what Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Musalia Mudavadi described as “weeks of open and constructive communication.” The Kenyan Foreign Ministry had written to its Ugandan counterpart, seeking information on the men’s whereabouts—a request that initially went unanswered. Finally, after what Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei called “lengthy engagements,” Njagi and Oyoo were released into the custody of the Kenyan ambassador in Kampala.
Upon their return to Kenya, the two men revealed grim details of their detention. They said they had been held in a military facility guarded by Ugandan special forces, enduring what they described as “inhumane conditions.” According to reporting by BBC, Njagi and Oyoo spoke of torture during their 38-day ordeal, though they did not elaborate on the specifics. The shadow of their experience lingers, raising difficult questions about the treatment of political detainees in Uganda and the broader state of human rights in East Africa.
President Museveni, who is 80 years old and seeking an unprecedented seventh term in office, has long been accused by critics of steering Uganda toward authoritarianism. The National Resistance Movement party, which he leads, faces little meaningful opposition. Museveni’s response to the activists’ arrest was unapologetic. At a press conference in Kampala, he warned that any attempts to protest in Uganda would “end up badly,” referencing the deadly November 2020 protests that erupted after Bobi Wine’s arrest. During those protests, dozens were killed and many more injured as security forces cracked down on dissent.
Museveni’s hardline stance was clear: “Any other person attempting to mislead young people in Uganda would be arrested and detained.” He claimed that Kenyan officials had asked him to either charge the activists or release them, and that he had chosen the latter after considering the diplomatic implications. Yet, the president’s justification for their detention—alleging they were riot organizers working with the opposition—has only intensified scrutiny of his government’s approach to political opposition and civil liberties.
The events surrounding Njagi and Oyoo’s detention have underscored the fragile state of human rights in the region. Both Uganda and Kenya are members of the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc whose charter guarantees economic cooperation and the free movement of people across member states. In theory, East Africans are free to visit, trade, and work in any EAC country, provided they respect local laws. In practice, however, political realities often intrude. As highlighted in a recent editorial in the Daily Nation, “Political leaders determined to hold onto those positions often have no scruples about violating the people’s freedoms of movement, expression, and association.”
The editorial also draws attention to a worrying trend of political crackdowns across East Africa. During Tanzania’s 2025 elections, security forces reportedly killed hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction during anti-government demonstrations. In Uganda, the approach to dissent has grown increasingly severe, with authorities quick to detain or silence those perceived as threats to the status quo. Kenya, too, faces its own high-stakes election in 2027, and concerns are mounting that similar tactics could be deployed there.
The return of Njagi and Oyoo to Kenya has brought immense relief to their families, who endured weeks of anxiety and fear. Yet, their story is far from unique. Across the region, activists and opposition supporters continue to face intimidation, violence, and arbitrary detention. The activists’ ordeal has become a rallying point for those advocating for free, fair, and democratic elections throughout East Africa. As the editorial in the Daily Nation put it, “East Africans must ensure that elections are free, fair, and democratic for them to freely choose their leaders and protect their freedoms so that the gains they have made are not eroded.”
The diplomatic dimensions of the case have also been significant. Kenya’s government was forced to navigate a delicate balancing act—pressing for the release of its citizens while maintaining cordial relations with its neighbor. The eventual resolution, achieved through what both sides described as “constructive communication,” suggests that back-channel diplomacy still has a role to play in resolving cross-border disputes within the EAC.
Looking ahead, the episode raises important questions about the future of political freedoms in East Africa. Will regional leaders heed the growing calls for reform and respect for civil liberties? Or will the pattern of crackdowns and contested elections continue? For now, the safe return of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo is a rare bright spot in a region where the struggle for democracy remains fraught with peril.
