In a chilling turn of events, two Kenyan human rights activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, have reportedly been abducted in Uganda while attending a campaign event for opposition leader Bobi Wine. The incident, described by Wine as a "mafia-style" kidnapping, has sparked outrage and raised alarming questions about the safety of activists and the suppression of dissent in East Africa.  

The activists were allegedly seized by armed men at a petrol station on Wednesday afternoon and driven to an unknown location. Witnesses, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, described a harrowing scene where four armed men, accompanied by a woman, forced Njagi and Oyoo into a vehicle before speeding away. Their phones have since been unreachable, and their whereabouts remain unknown.  

Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is a prominent Ugandan opposition figure and a presidential candidate challenging the long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni in next year’s elections. Wine has vehemently condemned the abduction, accusing the Ugandan government of targeting the activists for their association with him.  

“We condemn the continuing lawlessness by the rogue regime and demand that these brothers are released unconditionally! The criminal regime apparently abducted them simply for associating with me and expressing solidarity with our cause!” Wine posted on X, formerly Twitter.  

Ugandan authorities have denied any involvement in the disappearance. Police spokesman Kituma Rusoke stated that the activists were not in police custody, suggesting that other security agencies might be responsible. Army spokesperson Felix Kulayigye declined to comment, citing the alleged involvement of non-uniformed operatives and challenging Wine to provide evidence of the abduction.  

This incident is not isolated. Njagi, a vocal critic of government actions, was previously abducted in Kenya last year by masked men during a wave of disappearances targeting government critics. He was held incommunicado for over a month before resurfacing following a court order. Njagi later recounted the ordeal, describing being isolated and denied food for days.  

The latest disappearance has drawn sharp condemnation from human rights organizations. In a joint open letter to the Ugandan High Commission, the Law Society of Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, and Vocal Africa expressed grave concern, calling the incident “yet another alarming case in a pattern of abductions and enforced disappearances” in the region. They urged Ugandan authorities to disclose the activists’ whereabouts and ensure their safety.  

The case has also reignited fears of regional collaboration to suppress dissent. Earlier this year, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan counterpart Agather Atuhaire were detained in Tanzania and held incommunicado before being abandoned at their respective borders. Both reported being subjected to brutal mistreatment, including sexual torture—allegations Tanzanian authorities dismissed as “hearsay.”  

Similarly, Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye mysteriously disappeared in Nairobi last year, only to resurface four days later in a Ugandan military court facing treason charges. These incidents have fueled suspicions that East African governments may be working together to silence critics and stifle political opposition.  

As the search for Njagi and Oyoo continues, the international community is watching closely. The abductions underscore the growing risks faced by activists and opposition figures in a region where political dissent is increasingly met with intimidation, violence, and enforced disappearances. The call for accountability grows louder, but for now, the fate of the two Kenyan activists remains a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows of East Africa’s political landscape.