Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has accused General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces, of ordering the abduction and secret detention of Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo.
Security agents held the two incommunicado for 38 days at Kasenyi military barracks, where they allegedly faced torture and harsh interrogations about their association with Wine’s movement.
Their release, following intense diplomatic pressure from Kenya, has reignited scrutiny of Uganda’s worsening human rights situation and exposed the growing political power of Museveni’s son.
Bobi Wine Links Muhoozi to the Detention of Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo
Bobi Wine directly accused General Muhoozi Kainerugaba of masterminding the illegal detention of Kenyan human rights activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo in Uganda.
He told reporters that security officers abducted the two men in Kampala on October 1, shortly after they attended his manifesto launch in Jinja. According to Wine, Muhoozi’s soldiers held them at Kasenyi military barracks and interrogated them about their political links.
“After 39 days under incommunicado detention and torture, our Kenyan brothers Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have been dumped at the Kenya-Uganda border at Busia by the Museveni regime,” Wine said. “Museveni’s son held and questioned them about why they came to Uganda.”
Wine’s accusation has intensified scrutiny on Uganda’s military, which rights groups accuse of targeting political opponents and foreign allies of the opposition.
Kenyan Government Confirms Release After Intense Diplomatic Efforts
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, confirmed that the Ugandan government released the two activists and handed them to the Kenya High Commission in Kampala.
“Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo are free and back on Kenyan territory,” Sing’Oei announced. “Late last night, after lengthy engagements, the two were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda. Ugandan officials escorted them to Busia, where Busia County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga received them.”
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya pushed relentlessly for their release through diplomatic channels. He revealed that he sent a formal letter to Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, General Odongo Jeje Abubakhar, demanding an immediate resolution.
Mudavadi praised the outcome but vowed to pursue justice for the two Kenyans, emphasizing that no citizen should endure such a violation of human rights.
UPDF Denied Holding the Activists Despite Clear Evidence
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) initially denied detaining the two Kenyans. Colonel Silas Kamanda filed an affidavit in Uganda’s High Court on October 21, claiming that the military searched all its detention centers and found no record of Njagi and Oyoo.
Kamanda was responding to a habeas corpus order that required the UPDF to produce the two men, dead or alive, within seven days.
Wine’s revelation, however, exposed the UPDF’s deception. His statement confirmed that the activists were indeed held at a military base under Muhoozi’s control.
Human rights groups accused the UPDF of lying to the court and defying judicial orders. They argued that the case demonstrated how Uganda’s military operates above the law and protects those close to the ruling family.
Regional analysts said the military’s defiance showed the extent of impunity within Uganda’s security system.
Regional Tensions Rise Amid Calls for Accountability
The detention of activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo has fueled diplomatic tensions between Kenya and Uganda. Civil society groups across East Africa condemned the abductions and demanded full accountability.
Ugandan opposition leaders said the abductions fit a pattern of repression orchestrated by Muhoozi, who is widely believed to be preparing for a presidential bid. Bobi Wine accused him of using the army to crush dissent and silence foreign sympathizers.
“The abduction of our Kenyan brothers proves that Museveni’s son will go to any length to silence dissent,” Wine declared. “No one is safe when the regime views them as a threat.”
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch called for an independent investigation into the activists’ ordeal. They urged the Ugandan government to prosecute those responsible and to respect international human rights obligations.
Regional experts warned that Uganda’s growing authoritarianism could destabilize East Africa’s political and diplomatic balance if left unchecked.
Conclusion
Bobi Wine’s explosive allegations have reignited debate about Uganda’s deepening culture of impunity and military dominance in politics. The detention of activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo highlights the regime’s disregard for the rule of law and basic human rights.
