Kenyan activists kidnapped in Uganda, opposition chief says

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Two Kenyan human rights activists have gone lacking in Uganda after reportedly being kidnapped by armed males whereas attending opposition chief Bobi Wine’s marketing campaign occasion.

Bobi Wine strongly condemned the “abduction” of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, saying the pair had been “picked up mafia-style” at a petroleum station and pushed off to an unknown vacation spot.

Ugandan police spokesman Kituma Rusoke informed the BBC the 2 weren’t of their custody. Kenya’s Michael Muchiri mentioned he was not conscious of the matter.

Bobi Wine, a pop star whose actual title is Robert Kyagulanyi, is working for the presidency in subsequent yr’s elections, difficult President Yoweri Museveni, 80, who has held energy since 1986.

Bobi Wine mentioned the 2 Kenyans have been being focused by the Ugandan authorities for associating with him.

“We condemn the persevering with lawlessness by the rogue regime and demand that these brothers are launched unconditionally! The prison regime apparently kidnapped them merely for associating with me and expressing solidarity with our trigger!” he posted on X.

In a joint open letter to the Ugandan Excessive Fee, the Legislation Society of Kenya, rights organisations Amnesty Worldwide Kenya and Vocal Africa mentioned the most recent incident was “one more alarming case in a sample of abductions and enforced disappearances” within the area.

The organisations have known as on Ugandan authorities to reveal the whereabouts of the Kenyan activists and guarantee their security.

Mr Rusoke mentioned “these fellows will not be in police custody. Attain out to some other [security] company perhaps, simply in case”.

When contacted by the BBC, military spokesperson Felix Kulayigye mentioned he couldn’t communicate concerning the matter as a result of it was an allegation involving non-uniformed “safety operatives”.

He additionally tasked Bobi Wine to show the allegations of abduction and which safety company was concerned.

Ugandan safety companies have usually been accused of orchestrating the detention of opposition politicians and supporters whereas not in uniform. A few of these arrested have later resurfaced in court docket going through prison expenses.

A fellow activist who witnessed what occurred on Wednesday afternoon mentioned that 4 armed males compelled the pair right into a car and sped off.

“There have been 4 of them. There was additionally a woman who was seated in entrance; they took Bob and Oyoo Ochieng, who’s the secretary basic of the Free Kenya Motion,” the witness, who wished to stay nameless for safety causes, informed Kenya’s Citizen TV.

He mentioned each have been unreachable on telephone and their whereabouts have been unknown.

Movies shared on-line present Njagi actively taking part in Bobi Wine’s marketing campaign, and seems on stage beside the opposition chief.

The activists had reportedly travelled to Uganda on Monday with some Ugandans earlier than linking up with the marketing campaign.

Njagi was additionally picked up in Kenya final yr by masked males throughout a wave of abductions believed to have been concentrating on authorities critics within the nation.

He remained lacking for over a month earlier than resurfacing, after a court docket ordered police to provide him. He later recounted the harrowing circumstances in captivity – remoted and denied meals for many of the days.

Their newest disappearances mirror previous incidents involving politicians and activists throughout the East African area.

Earlier this yr, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and his Ugandan counterpart Agather Atuhaire have been detained in Tanzania and held incommunicado for days earlier than being deserted at their respective nationwide borders.

They later recounted being brutally mistreated, together with sexual torture by the hands of the Tanzanian authorities – allegations which police dismissed as “rumour”.

Final yr, one other Uganda opposition determine, Kizza Besigye, mysteriously disappeared in Nairobi solely to floor 4 days later in a navy court docket in Uganda, the place he faces treason expenses.

The circumstances have since sparked widespread condemnation and issues that East African governments might be collaborating to comprise dissent.