Two Kenyan human rights activists have gone missing in Uganda after reportedly being abducted by armed men while attending opposition leader Bobi Wine's campaign event.
Bobi Wine, a well-known figure in Ugandan politics, condemned the abduction of Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, asserting that they were taken in a mafia-style operation at a petrol station and driven off to an unknown location.
Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri stated he was unaware of the situation, and the Ugandan police have yet to comment on the incident.
The activists were in Uganda to support Bobi Wine, who is challenging longtime President Yoweri Museveni in the upcoming elections. Wine claims the activists are being targeted simply for their association with him and their solidarity with his political cause.
In an alarming statement on social media platform X, Bobi Wine demanded their unconditional release, condemning the Ugandan government's escalating crackdown on dissent. This incident follows a pattern of similar abductions and attacks against critics and activists in East Africa.
A witness to the abduction described how four armed men forced the pair into a vehicle and drove away, leaving them unreachable by phone. Videos posted online show the two activists engaging in Bobi Wine's campaign activities prior to their disappearance, underscoring their visible support for his opposition movement.
The situation of Njagi is particularly troubling, as he has faced repression before; last year, he was abducted in Kenya and held without charge for over a month. His latest disappearance echoes a troubling trend in the region where governments utilize intimidation and violence against political opponents.
Previous incidents involving activists such as Boniface Mwangi and Kizza Besigye illustrate a growing concern about collaborative efforts among East African governments to silence dissent, further raising alarm about the state of human rights across the continent.
