- Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have revealed shocking details about their 38-day imprisonment by the Ugandan army
- They were released on November 7 and flown to Nairobi the following morning, where they credited media pressure, public solidarity, and diplomatic efforts for their survival.
- Human rights groups congratulated former president Uhuru Kenyatta and both governments for the freedom and return of the two
Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo have narrated the difficult experience they had at the hands of the army Uganda.
Source: Twitter
The two Kenyan citizens and human rights defenders were released on Friday night, November 7, and handed over to the High Commissioner, Joash Maangi, in Kampala.
They were then flown to Nairobi the next morning.
How Bob Njagi, Nicholas Oyoo suffered in Uganda
Giving their account shortly after landing at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Njagi and Oyoo said they were tortured and that they were sure they would not return home alive.
He said they were starving and only ate rations that were not good enough to be called food. Njagi said he forced himself to starve for at least 14 days.
The tragedy left them physically ill, promising Kenyans a full account of what happened next once they received treatment.
“The 38 days of being kidnapped were not easy. We did not think we would get out alive because we were being kidnapped by the army. We have been kept by the army in Uganda for this under the Special Forces Command. We will give you more details shortly after receiving treatment. We have not eaten for about 14 days. I myself have been fasting,” he said.
“We were tortured, but we will give you an explanation. I was fasting, but at the same time, the kind of food that you have been given is not really food. You have been neglected, if I may say so,” he added.
On his part, the defeated Oyoo did not have much to say but linked their safety to the media attention on the issue and the noise made by Kenyans and human rights groups.
“What we went through is something I didn’t imagine. I want to thank Kenyans, the media, and everyone because without you we wouldn’t be here,” he said.
Did Uhuru Kenyatta help Njagi, Oyoo to be released?
Njagi also thanked the East African media, Kenyans and human rights groups who were at the forefront to defend their freedom and well-being.
“I am very happy to return home. I want to thank all Kenyans for standing in solidarity with us. Above all, we have the media for spreading our story almost every day. Human rights organizations; Amnesty International, LSK, Defenders Coalition, KHRC, Vocal Africa, you know them all. We want to thank you all for standing with us throughout this period. I cannot forget my family too. They have gone through a very bad and terrible time,” Njagi said.
At the same time, human rights groups associated the freedom of the two with the former president Uhuru Kenyattaapart from the intervention of the Kenyan government.
Source: Twitter
Irungu Houghton of Amnesty International shared that Uhuru got involved in the matter when it entered a critical phase.
He suggested that through his diplomatic popularity, the former president strengthened the efforts of civil society organizations to secure the release of the two after actively participating in the negotiations.
“There are many difficult negotiations that took place. One of them involved the former president of the Republic of Kenya, the fourth president, and that is Uhuru Kenyatta. And it is out of the negotiations and discussions that took place at the highest levels of the two governments, including the former president, that we have returned the two to Kenya in the way they are.
“We would just like to say that we believe that this was also the result of the pressure of ordinary people, of human rights defenders, of journalists, of civil organizations, and therefore, together, we can be proud of this moment when we now have the two with us,” said Irungu.
For its part, the Kenyan government previously announced that it was monitoring the issue, after sending a team of diplomats to the ground.
Who kidnapped Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo?
Meanwhile, the disappearance of Njagi and Oyoo was reportedly approved by General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, claimed that the activists were held in a military base under Muhoozi’s orders.
Muhoozi, who heads the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) and is the first son of President Yoweri Museveni, allegedly ordered them to be detained and questioned about their activities in Uganda.
Bobi further accused Museveni’s government of misusing government systems to suppress opponents and intimidate critics.
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