Human rights organizations in Kenya have reported that two activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who disappeared in Uganda five weeks ago, have been located alive and unharmed. Eyewitness accounts indicated that the activists were forcibly taken by masked men in uniforms following a political event in which they were supporting Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine.
On Saturday, the activist group Vocal Africa confirmed the safety of Njagi and Oyoo, stating that they were being transported from Busia in Uganda to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. The organization emphasized the significance of this event for human rights in the East African region.
Despite Ugandan police denying any involvement in their detention, Kenyan rights groups engaged in advocacy efforts to secure the men’s release. Vocal Africa, along with the Law Society of Kenya and Amnesty International, issued a joint statement thanking the governments of Kenya and Uganda, as well as activists and journalists, for their efforts.
Bobi Wine, who is campaigning for the presidency in the upcoming elections against long-time President Yoweri Museveni, has claimed that the Ugandan government is specifically targeting the two Kenyans due to their association with him. Ugandan security forces have faced allegations of detaining opposition figures while out of uniform, with some individuals later appearing in court under criminal charges.
The circumstances surrounding the recent disappearances parallel prior incidents involving activists and politicians in East Africa. Notably, Njagi had previously been abducted in Kenya last year but resurfaced after a court demanded his production, where he described the dire conditions he faced in captivity. Similarly, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania earlier this year and later reported mistreatment.
These cases have raised concerns about potential collaboration among East African governments to suppress dissent, highlighting ongoing issues related to human rights in the region.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8v9vkkjm0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss