Kenya, 21 OCtober 2025 - The mystery surrounding the disappearance of two Kenyan activists in Uganda has triggered an international campaign and growing pressure on both Kampala and Nairobi to act. Bob Njagi and Nick Oyoo, known for their civic advocacy and youth engagement initiatives, vanished in Kampala on October 1, 2025, while attending a political event linked to Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).
According to reports the pair were last seen near a fuel station in Kireka after their vehicle broke down. Witnesses say they were seized by unidentified men and bundled into a white van, a pattern familiar to Ugandan civil society, where enforced disappearances have become increasingly common.
Legal Pressure Mounts
The Kampala High Court has ordered Ugandan authorities to produce the two men dead or alive by October 21, following a petition by their lawyers. The suit names several security agencies, including the Chief of Defence Forces and the Attorney General, demanding disclosure of where the activists are held and that they be granted legal representation.
Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), urged Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene decisively.“Kenya must act firmly to protect its citizens beyond its borders,” she said. “Human rights do not stop at Busia.”
Global Campaign for Justice
In response, Amnesty International Kenya, Vocal Africa, and the LSK have launched a global letter-writing campaign urging President Yoweri Museveni to disclose the men’s whereabouts and ensure their safe release. The initiative, part of Amnesty’s Urgent Action Network, mobilizes more than 500,000 volunteers worldwide to flood the Ugandan presidency with letters of appeal.
Hussein Khalid, Executive Director of Vocal Africa, called the case a test for East Africa’s democratic credibility.
“What happens to Njagi and Oyoo will show whether regional governments still respect the right to dissent,” he said.
Families in Agony
Back in Kenya, the families of the missing activists are struggling with anguish and uncertainty.
“My mother’s health has deteriorated because of worry,” said Eldie Oyoo-Ojuando, a relative and lawyer representing the family. “Our brothers went to Uganda legally, they had passports and entry stamps. All we ask for is their safe return.”
Human rights organizations have pointed out that this is not an isolated incident. Amnesty’s recent reports document similar disappearances in Uganda, including that of Robert Lugya Kayingo and human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza, both detained without trial in recent years.
Regional Implications
Analysts warn that such incidents risk straining Kenya–Uganda relations, especially at a time when both countries are seeking closer trade and security cooperation. The abductions also highlight the shrinking civic space in East Africa and renewed threats to cross-border activism.
“A single letter may seem small, but when multiplied by thousands, it becomes a force for justice,” Amnesty said in a joint statement. For now, Njagi and Oyoo’s fate remains unknown, but their case has become a rallying point for human rights defenders across the region, demanding that borders never become barriers to justice.
