LSK, Amnesty demand answers after abduction of 2 Kenyans in Uganda
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) demanded answers over the abduction of two Kenyan human rights defenders in Uganda.
In a joint statement with Vocal Africa and Amnesty International Kenya on X on Wednesday, October 2, 2025, the bodies strongly condemned the disappearance of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were reportedly seized in Kampala on Wednesday, October 1, 2025.
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The two activists, both affiliated with the Free Kenya Movement, were part of opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi’s campaign activities when they were taken. Eyewitnesses said they were grabbed by armed men believed to be Ugandan security officers at a petrol station in Kireka, Kampala.
They were forced into a vehicle and driven away to an unknown location. Their phones were immediately switched off, and their whereabouts remain unclear.
A third activist, who was briefly detained and later released, has spoken of his fear and uncertainty about the fate of Njagi and Oyoo.
Abductions in East Africa
According to human rights organisations, the incident fits into a growing pattern of abductions and enforced disappearances targeting activists in East Africa. They say such cases expose a deepening crackdown on dissent across the region.
Also Watch: Family reprieve as missing Kitengela brothers and activist found alive.
Over the past year, watchdog groups have reported increasing incidents of transnational repression and intimidation. The victims are often opposition figures, civil society leaders, and journalists.
LSK and its partners noted that the Kampala abductions are part of a systematic effort to silence voices demanding accountability.
This is not the first time Njagi has been targeted. In August 2024, he and two brothers, Aslam and Jamil Longton, were forcibly disappeared in Kenya after participating in demonstrations against government economic policies.
They were held incommunicado for more than a month, tortured, and later released. Since then, Njagi has complained of continued surveillance and harassment.
His re-abduction in Uganda marks a serious escalation. Rights groups say it signals coordinated state-linked repression aimed at silencing those pushing for justice and reforms. The Law Society of Kenya has called on both Kenyan and Ugandan authorities to urgently account for the safety and whereabouts of the two missing activists.
Amnesty International Kenya has also demanded their immediate release, warning that failure to address such abductions threatens not only activists but also the wider space for civil society and democratic freedoms in the region.
