Activist Bob Njagi opens up on chilling torture he faced while detained in Uganda

Kenyan human rights activist Bob Njagi has spoken publicly for the first time since his release from Ugandan custody, narrating the harrowing conditions he and fellow activist Nicholas Oyoo endured during their 38-day detention.

Njagi, who was freed on Saturday, November 8, 2025, after being held since October 1, said the two were tortured, deprived of food, and kept under constant surveillance by Uganda’s Special Forces Command.

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In a brief address on the same day, Njagi said they were still in physical pain and required medical attention before they could reveal full details of their ordeal.

“We were being detained under the watch of the Special Forces Command. We are going to release more details to you about what happened in detention in a short while because we need medical attention first. We have not been eating for 14 days. Myself, I have been fasting and it has been very difficult,” Njagi said.

The activist expressed gratitude to Kenyans and regional rights groups for their relentless advocacy and solidarity throughout their disappearance, saying it was their collective pressure that made their eventual release possible.

“Thank you very much for your solidarity. Yes, we were tortured, but we will give more details about the same soon. The food we were being given was not really good at all. We were being dehumanised, if I would say so,” Njagi added.

Human rights

Their detention and release have drawn widespread attention across East Africa, reigniting debate on human rights, freedom of assembly, and cross-border accountability between Kenya and Uganda.

Earlier, the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Njagi and Oyoo had been officially handed over to Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, at the Busia border on Saturday morning.

The duo was then received by the Busia County Commissioner before being taken for medical examination and debriefing.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said the Kenyan government was deeply grateful for the efforts by different actors who made this outcome possible and assured that Nairobi would continue pursuing accountability for their detention.

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo also welcomed the development, saying the release highlighted the importance of regional cooperation in upholding human rights and protecting activists across borders.

VOCAL Africa, Amnesty International Kenya, and the Law Society of Kenya jointly lauded the outcome, commending the sustained advocacy that kept the case in the public spotlight for weeks.

“We extend our appreciation to their families, Free Kenya movement colleagues, human rights defenders, journalists, the ministries of foreign affairs in Kenya and Tanzania, and all active citizens who have tirelessly campaigned for this moment.”

Njagi and Oyoo’s disappearance on October 1, while attending Bobi Wine’s rally, had sparked outrage and panic among their families and human rights defenders.

The two were believed to have been abducted by Ugandan security agents, prompting calls from Kenyan leaders, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, for their immediate release.