Kenyan Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo Freed After 38 Days in Uganda

Kenya, 8 November 2025 - Two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who had been missing in Uganda for over a month, have finally been released and returned home after diplomatic talks between Nairobi and Kampala.

The two were handed over to Kenyan officials late Friday night and safely crossed into Kenya through the Busia border, according to Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei.

He confirmed that Ugandan authorities, together with Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, escorted the pair to the border, where they were received by Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachunga.

“Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are now free and back on Kenyan soil. Their release came after long discussions between the two governments,” Sing’Oei said on Saturday, 8 November 2025, through his official X account.

Njagi and Oyoo, who are members of the Free Kenya Movement, were reportedly abducted in Kampala on 1 October 2025, where they had gone to attend a political rally organized by Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.

Their disappearance caused public concern in both countries and drew the attention of civil society groups and international human rights organisations.

Following their release, groups including Amnesty International Kenya, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), and the Voice of Community Activists and Leaders Africa (VOCAL Africa) welcomed the news, praising the efforts of their families, lawyers, and government officials.

“We are relieved that Bob and Nicholas are finally safe. We thank everyone who pushed for their freedom, including human rights defenders, journalists, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs in both Kenya and Uganda,” the organisations said in a joint statement.

The activists’ detention had sparked diplomatic tension, prompting Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi to demand answers from Ugandan authorities.

The two men are now expected to undergo medical checks and reunite with their families after 38 days in detention.

Their case has reignited calls for better protection of activists working across East Africa, as many continue to face harassment, arrests, and intimidation while championing freedom and democracy in the region.