NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan human rights activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have provided a detailed account of the events leading to their 39-day detention in Uganda, asserting that their ill-fated trip was primarily for business and social engagements, not political interference.
Appearing on a live television show on Wednesday night, the duo, recently released from the Kasenyi Military Barracks in Entebbe, recounted how their journey legally began before swiftly turning into a nightmare.
Solidarity, not subversion
Nicholas Oyoo, Secretary General of the Free Kenya Movement (FKM), explained that their presence at the manifesto launch of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was rooted in solidarity, not political subversion.
“We have business interests, family interests, those kinds of relationships…We had a plan to go to Uganda to go and see some of these issues. When we got into Uganda, legally by the way, had our passports stamped and a six-month Visa, we got in very well and started our business,” he narrated.
Oyoo stressed that attending the manifesto launch was an act of personal support:
“We realised our colleague Bobi Wine was having a launch of their manifesto and felt like that is something we should give our solidarity to. So we were there to give solidarity because that is what we usually do.”
He added that their intent was purely supportive and short-term: “Because even if I am in court, you may not have resources to support me in anything, but as long as I can see you, it makes me feel like people are helping out. That is what we were going to do and for us, we didn’t expect anything of this nature; we expected it would be four-five days, then we would be back.”
Business, tourism, and old debts
Bob Njagi, FKM Chairman, confirmed he had multiple reasons for visiting Uganda, including scoping out tourism sites and reconnecting with business associates.
“I have some Canadian friends of mine who are bound to come to Kenya in January and they asked me if I can take them to see gorillas in Uganda,” Njagi said. “So I thought that if I go there in advance, I would be able to look at the good places to take them if they do come in January. I don’t think they’re considering travelling to Uganda anytime soon after seeing what happened to us.”
Njagi further revealed that he hoped to meet former Ugandan Health Minister Michael Mukula to settle a debt: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I supplied masks to him worth over Ksh.1 million and I was there to see if I could meet with him,” he noted.
He acknowledged that their political activism had always included cross-border solidarity: “Politically, we have interactions with the National Unity Party (NUP) here in Kenya for many years, since 2018 — you remember the Free Bobi Wine protests in Nairobi; that was the Free Kenya Movement. And we joined him in protests and thereafter he has visited Kenya twice.”
Abduction and release
The activists confirmed their detention began just two days into their planned week-long visit when they were abducted by unidentified men believed to be part of Uganda’s Special Forces Command.
Also Read: Kenyan activist Bob Njagi claims Kenya facilitated their arrest in Uganda
“We got there and by the second day we were abducted; we were planning to stay for at least a week and then come back as East African citizens,” Njagi recounted.
Njagi and Oyoo were finally released 39 days later following sustained pressure from the Kenyan government, Amnesty International, and Vocal Africa, with former President Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly assisting in the negotiations.
Following their release, Bobi Wine claimed the activists were detained under the direct orders of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.
The duo are now actively calling for accountability and the implementation of stronger regional safeguards against cross-border human rights violations.
