KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has alleged that the two recently released Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were arrested for planning to train Ugandan youths in riot tactics during their visit to Jinja for the National Unity Platform (NUP) manifesto launch.
Speaking during a press briefing at Mbale State Lodge on Saturday night, President Museveni stated that intelligence services had received information indicating the duo had entered Uganda to collaborate with the opposition NUP in what he termed “subversive activities.”
The President directly addressed the reasons for the detention:
“We got two Kenyans we arrested. They came and were working with Kyagulanyi’s group, that they were experts in riots. They had come to train our people,” Mr. Museveni told journalists.
Kenyan intervention and foreign warning
President Museveni confirmed that the release of the two activists, who were held for 39 days, followed direct intervention by Kenyan authorities. He detailed the nature of the pressure:
“Some Kenyan leaders rang me that we either put them in jail here or give them back,” the president said.
Mr. Museveni then issued a strong warning to foreign actors who he claims are sponsoring or encouraging Ugandan youths to engage in protests, assuring them that their schemes would not destabilize the country.
“We are monitoring them. What these foreigners are afraid of is that Uganda is growing strong — industries are growing, we don’t lack anything, and we are now going to get our oil. They are very worried,” he said.
The President accused these unnamed foreign entities of attempting to recruit and fund local youths to incite unrest.
He referenced a past incident to illustrate the perceived threat: “They have been trying to do it for a long time — to burn Kampala. You remember the tajja kulayira!” he said, referring to the 2020 protests sparked by the arrest of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).
Response to unrest and conditions for protest
Mr. Museveni cautioned that any attempts to destabilize Uganda would be met with a firm security response.
“I must warn the ones misleading these children that they will end up badly. For example, in the November 2020 riots, when they said they would burn down Kampala, the army intervened and some died. We normally defeat these schemes with counter-mobilisation,” he said.
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He did, however, reiterate that peaceful demonstrations remain acceptable, provided they do not result in the destruction of property.
“If you are angry, you can demonstrate and go to Kololo to show you are not happy, but don’t attack anybody. Just show you don’t agree with what I’m doing. If you take over as a new government and you previously burnt everything, what will you take over?,” President Museveni added.
