We were tortured at military facility: Njagi and Oyoo recall 38 days of horror in Uganda

A visible sigh of relief, lines of dripping sweat, and signs of mental exhaustion and pain masked by weak smiles marked the emotional return of two Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were brought back to the country after reportedly being abducted 38 days ago in Uganda. From a distance, it was easy to see the trauma and suffering the activists had endured at the hands of their abductors.

For weeks, they lived in uncertainty while their families grappled with the fear of the unknown.

On Saturday, however, the families of Njagi and Oyoo were all smiles as they received them at Kisumu International Airport, moments after they were handed over to Kenyan authorities by their Ugandan counterparts.

The activists were still too distraught to recount the ordeal they had gone through in captivity, a story, they said, they would only share after receiving medical attention.

Later, in Nairobi, the two men landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at around 2:30pm from Kisumu aboard Kenya Airways flight KQ655.

They were met by a charged atmosphere as a group of activists occupied the domestic arrivals terminal 1D, singing freedom songs as they awaited Njagi and Oyoo.

At one point, they got into a confrontation with a police officer in civilian clothes as they tried to access the door from which the two were expected to emerge.

Other passengers had a difficult time exiting the terminal as the activists blocked the area.

When Njagi and Oyoo finally appeared, celebrations erupted as families and friends jostled to reach them, eager for a hug or a handshake.

They could not say much but revealed they had been tortured and needed time for medical check-ups and psychological care.

“I want to thank all Kenyans for standing in solidarity with us,” said Njagi.
According to him, they did not believe they would come out alive after their abduction at a Starbex Petrol Station in Uganda’s capital, Kampala.

Their detention stretched from days into weeks until their eventual release, after which they were handed over to the Kenyan Embassy in Uganda.

“We were abducted by the military and held by the military in Uganda under the Special Forces Command,” Njagi said.

The Ugandan military is under the leadership of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni.

Njagi said the food they were given was of poor quality, adding that he went on a 14-day fast before their release.

“We were being dehumanised,” he said.

Trauma of captivity

Oyoo added that the experience had changed his perspective on life.

“There are things I may have taken for granted, but that will not be the case anymore. At this point, we do not want to say much because we need medical attention. We are traumatised but happy to be home,” he said.

Njagi and Oyoo, who are affiliated with the Free Kenya Movement, had been missing since 1 October, after they were reportedly arrested in Kampala during a civic forum linked to Ugandan opposition politician Bobi Wine.

Their disappearance triggered a regional outcry, with Kenyan human rights organisations, lawyers, and activists demanding answers from both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments.

Saturday, the two and their families thanked Kenyans and lobby groups for pushing for their release.

“I want to thank Kenyans, the media, and everyone who fought for us. Without your support, we might not be here today. We will share more of our story later, but for now, we are just grateful to be back,” said Oyoo.

Oyoo’s mother, Roseline Ochieng, also expressed gratitude to the media and Kenyans for their efforts.

“I want to thank everybody who has been helping us throughout. It has been a difficult time,” she said.

Betty Okero, Vice-Chair of the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), who was among the first to meet the two at the airport, described their return as a moment of validation for the tireless advocacy and public pressure maintained during their disappearance.

“For the longest time, we said that our comrades were alive and that they were somewhere. Seeing them here today is proof that our demands were not in vain,” Okero said.

“This is a moment of relief not just for the families, but for all of us who have been advocating for their safe release. It reminds us that collective action and solidarity can have a real impact, even in difficult circumstances.”

Karen Kiarie, Njagi’s cousin, was present at the border to personally escort the activists. She recounted how she received news of their release late at night and immediately travelled to meet them.

“We heard about their release around 10pm, and I travelled to the border, arriving at around 1am. By 2am, they had been handed over,” Karen said.

Border handover

She explained that the activists were escorted by the Kenyan ambassador, Ugandan authorities, and a military convoy.

Busia County Commissioner Mwachaunga Chaunga officially handed them over to her as a family representative, and she accompanied them to Kisumu before the journey to Nairobi.

“They were brought into the country by our ambassador in Uganda at around 2am and received by our security and immigration officers,” Chaunga said.

“They were processed at the immigration offices, and everything was done according to protocol.”

The commissioner added that after their arrival, the two were taken to hospital for medical assessment.

“They were examined by doctors who confirmed that they are in good condition,” he said.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo said he had visited Uganda twice, including during the National Prayer Breakfast, where he raised the issue with Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa.

According to the senator, he later spoke to Ugandan politician James Kakooza, who assured him that the two were safe.

“Human rights must be respected everywhere in the world, and we are thankful that this shows something good can be done for an East African,” said Maanzo.

Unneighbourly neighbours

Hussein Khalid of Vocal Africa and Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International urged East African governments to respect the rule of law.

“Thirty-eight days is too long, and enforced disappearances are an international crime. What happened to Bob and Nicholas was illegal and unlawful,” said Houghton.

According to Khalid, what happened to Njagi and Oyoo could happen to anyone, and only adherence to the rule of law and the Constitution can protect citizens.

The two warned that Uganda and Kenya should not allow the kind of repression seen in neighbouring Tanzania as they approach elections in 2026 and 2027 respectively.

“Elections must be free from violence and intimidation, and all eligible citizens must have the right to vote,” said Houghton.

Khalid added that any attack on a human rights defender is an attack on everyone.

They also revealed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta was involved in the negotiations that secured the activists’ freedom.

“One of the negotiations involved former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and it was through high-level discussions between the two governments, with his involvement, that the two were finally able to return to Kenya,” they said.

 [Additional reporting by Mary Imenza and Benard Lusigi]