Human rights groups in Kenya have confirmed that two activists who disappeared in Uganda five weeks ago, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, have been found alive and well. The activists were reportedly abducted by masked individuals at a political gathering where they supported Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.
On Saturday, Vocal Africa, an activist organization, announced that the men were safe and were being transported back to Kenya’s capital of Nairobi from Busia in Uganda.
Vocal Africa expressed hope that this incident would signify a shift towards improved human rights protections for East Africans across the region. They stated on social media, Let this moment signal an important shift towards upholding the human rights of East Africans anywhere in East African Community.
Despite Ugandan police denying that the activists were in custody, lobbying by various Kenyan rights groups resulted in their release. In a joint statement, Vocal Africa along with the Law Society of Kenya and Amnesty International thanked various parties involved for their efforts in securing their release.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo's ordeal is reflective of broader systemic issues in Uganda, where the government has been accused of targeting opposition figures and dissenters. Bobi Wine, who is running for the presidency, has previously alleged that the Ugandan government is hostile to those associated with him.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern in East Africa. Njagi himself had previously been abducted in Kenya under similar circumstances and resurfaced a month later with allegations of mistreatment while in custody. Other activists have faced similar fates, raising significant concerns about state-sponsored violence against political dissenters in the region.
