Museveni breaks silence after abduction and release of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has described two Kenyans who were arrested in Uganda as experts in riots.
His statement comes after activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were released following a 38-day abduction, which had drawn concern from civil society and regional human rights organisations.
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“Here we have got very good intelligence. We arrested 2 Kenyans… We monitored them and found out they were experts in riots,” he said on TV on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Bob Njagi and Nelson Oyoo were detained on October 1, 2025, while attending a political rally in Uganda. Their sudden disappearance sparked alarm across the region, prompting calls for their safe return.
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’oei, confirmed their release on Saturday, November 8, 2025, saying the activists were handed over to Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, Joash Maangi, and were received safely at the Busia border.
Activists recount ordeal
Speaking to the press moments after arriving in Kenya, Bob Njagi revealed the harsh conditions they endured during detention.
“I am delighted to be back home. 38 days of abduction were not easy; we did not think we would come out alive,” he said.
He added that both he and his fellow activist Nelson Oyoo were subjected to physical torture and deprivation of food, and required medical attention before being able to share full details of their experience.
Museveni also used the opportunity to issue a warning to those attempting to disturb security in Uganda.
“I must warn the people doing that game here in Uganda. Here we normally defeat it by countering it like the way we did in November 2020,” he said, highlighting the government’s focus on maintaining order and preventing unrest.
While Njagi and Oyoo are now safely back in Kenya, their experience shows the challenges faced by civil society and human rights defenders in East Africa.
The situation has prompted renewed calls for transparency and accountability, as well as measures to protect political activists and prevent similar incidents in the future.
