Amnesty International in Kenya has intensified pressure on Ugandan authorities to release Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyo, who disappeared in the capital, Kampala, in early October amid accusations that the Ugandan government is failing to disclose their whereabouts.
In a statement issued on Monday, the organization compared the current situation in Uganda to the era of former president Idi Amin (1971–1979), one of the darkest periods of human rights abuses in the country’s history.
“The Kenyan citizens Nicholas Oyo and Bob Njagi were abducted in broad daylight by men in uniform in Kampala and have since simply vanished, while the Ugandan police and army deny any involvement, and the Kenyan government remains silent,” the statement said.
It added, “Are we witnessing a return to the terror of Idi Amin, or do the promises made by the National Resistance Movement in 1986 for justice and human rights still hold true, just three months before the general elections scheduled for January 2026?”
The organization noted that President Yoweri Museveni came to power pledging to build a fairer nation, yet the persistence of enforced disappearances and violence against unarmed opposition members represents “a betrayal of the promise to break from the abuses of the past.”
Despite eyewitness accounts indicating that the activists were detained by armed security forces, both the Ugandan police and military have denied any involvement. Reports have surfaced suggesting they may be held in a military camp, as both men are linked to the political opposition led by Bobi Wine.
The criticism has not been directed at Uganda alone — human rights groups have also accused the Kenyan government of failing to take action to secure the activists’ return, noting that it has yet to initiate any formal diplomatic contact regarding the case.
Amnesty International has launched several initiatives to pressure Kampala, including urging people worldwide to send direct emails to President Museveni through its website and to sign an open letter calling for the activists’ immediate and unconditional release.
The organization also stressed that the Kenyan constitution obliges the government to use all possible means to ensure the safe return of its citizens.