The case of two missing Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, has taken a new twist after the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) denied having them in custody. This revelation was made in court documents dated October 21, 2025, deepening the mystery surrounding their disappearance earlier this month.
In a sworn affidavit, Colonel Silas Kamanda, Director at the Joint Staff Legal Services and a senior officer in the UPDF, stated that a thorough search had been conducted across all detention facilities under the force’s control. However, no record or trace of the two Kenyans was found.
“We have carried out investigations and searched all relevant detention facilities and records, including lockup registers and custody records, and found no entry relating to the said Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi between October 1, 2025, to date,” Kamanda said.
His statement was filed in response to a habeas corpus order issued by a Ugandan court, which required the UPDF to produce the two activists either alive or dead within seven days. The order, which expired on October 21, sought to compel the Ugandan military to clarify whether the activists were in their custody following widespread claims of cross-border abductions.
The disappearance of Njagi and Oyoo has sparked public outrage and diplomatic concern, with human rights groups in both Kenya and Uganda demanding transparency. The activists were reportedly last seen near the Kenya-Uganda border, where they were said to be conducting a civic engagement campaign.
As the court order lapses without answers, pressure continues to mount on both Nairobi and Kampala to account for the whereabouts of the missing duo. The UPDF’s denial leaves their families and supporters in growing distress, as the mystery of their disappearance remains unsolved.
