The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied holding Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo who were abducted by armed men after attending opposition leader Bobi Wine’s campaign event recently.
In a letter dated 21st October 2025 in response to a Habeas Corpus the activists lawyers Kiiza & Mugisha Co Advocates recently filed at the Civil Division of the High Court, UPDF’s Director Joint Staff Legal Services, Col Silas Kamanda denied the force having the duo in custody.
“In obedience to the writ herein do satisfy and return that Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi are not in the custody of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces” he said.
Kamanda said the force has carried out investigations and searched all their known detention facilities across the country but failed to locate the duo.
“We have carried out investigations and searched all relevant detention facilities, records including lock up registers, custody records and found no entry relating to the said Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi between 1st October, 2025 to date” he said.
He added, “We therefore confirm that the said Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi are not within the custody of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and we do not know their whereabouts”.
However the military’s response has received criticism from human rights activists who have noted that the continued abduction by armed men and denial of their holding by the military has become rampant of recent.
“First it was Sam Mugumya abducted at 10am by people in UPDF uniform but they denied having him. Now it is the Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo that were picked up at 3pm in Kireka a suburb of Kampala by uniformed officers as told by their colleague that survived the abduction. They still claim they don’t have them. Who is safe in this country?” Agather Atuhaire posted on her X page.
The duos lawyer and activist Eron Kiiza said Police’s denial of holding the two Kenyan activists is absurd.
“The rate at which UPDF & other security agencies are kidnapping people and denying knowledge of their whereabouts is getting out of hand a recipe for disaster. They claim not to know where the Kenyans are. This is absurd!” he said.
