The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), Amnesty International Kenya, and Vocal Africa have called for the immediate release and safe return of two Kenyan human rights defenders, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were reported abducted in Kampala, Uganda, on October 1.
In a letter to the Ugandan High Commission in Nairobi, the organisations condemned the incident, describing it as part of what they termed a growing pattern of cross-border repression.
The three groups urged Ugandan authorities to disclose the whereabouts of the two men, ensure their safety, and facilitate their right to legal representation and communication with their families.
They also called for an investigation into the incident and for accountability for those responsible.
“This is not the first time Njagi has been targeted. In August 2024, he and two others were forcibly disappeared in Kenya after participating in protests. They were held incommunicado for over a month, tortured, and later released. Since then, Njagi has reported continued surveillance and harassment,” the letter claimed.
The organisations appealed for the protection of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, noting that these are enshrined in both Ugandan and international human rights law.
They warned that cross-border abductions risk setting a dangerous precedent and could suppress legitimate calls for justice, democracy, and accountability in the region.
The groups also urged the Kenyan government to engage with Ugandan authorities to secure the release of Njagi and Oyoo and to ensure that cross-border activism is not criminalised.
According to eyewitness accounts cited in the letter, Njagi and Oyoo were seized by armed individuals while participating in campaign activities linked to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
They were reportedly taken from a petrol station in Kireka, Kampala, in broad daylight and driven to an undisclosed location. Their mobile phones were switched off, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
A third activist, who was briefly detained and later released, said he feared for his safety and expressed concern about the fate of his colleagues.
Records compiled by human rights organisations show a growing number of reported abductions and enforced disappearances of activists, journalists, and opposition members in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania between 2024 and 2025.
The organisations argue that these incidents are not isolated but reflect a broader and coordinated assault on civil society, political opposition, and media freedom in the region.
