We Were Tortured, Dehumanized Too - Kenyan Activists Speak Hours After Release

Kenyan activists have spoken out hours after their release from secret Ugandan military custody, ending 39 days of silence and fear. Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were abandoned at the Busia border before dawn on Saturday, weak and wounded. 

Their freedom came after intense pressure from Kenyan diplomats and international rights groups who demanded their immediate release.

The two disappeared on October 1 in Kampala’s Kireka area. Witnesses said armed men grabbed them in broad daylight and forced them into unmarked vehicles. 

For weeks, their families searched in vain, fearing the worst. The men were well-known supporters of Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, a stance that many believe led to their arrest.

Their disappearance sparked protests in Nairobi and Kampala. Human rights organizations accused Ugandan security forces of targeting activists who speak against the government. 

The Kenya Human Rights Commission and the United Nations urged both countries to investigate what they called a grave abuse of power.

When Njagi and Oyoo appeared in Nairobi on Saturday, they looked frail and shaken. Njagi, with bandages on his hands, said they were beaten and humiliated during endless interrogations. 

“We were treated like animals,” he said quietly. 

“They wanted to break our spirits.” He added that they were denied food for days and forced to stay awake through long nights of questioning.

Oyoo confirmed the torture claims, saying they were held at Mbuya military barracks, a place known for brutal interrogations. 

“You could hear others being beaten in nearby rooms,” he said.

“It was a nightmare that felt endless.” Both men said they would reveal full details once they complete medical treatment.

Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi welcomed their return, calling it a diplomatic victory. 

He said Kenya had engaged directly with Ugandan Foreign Minister Jeje Odongo to ensure their release. 

“The safety of our citizens abroad is a matter we take seriously,” Mudavadi said.

Outside Uganda’s embassy in Nairobi, supporters held placards demanding justice. Bobi Wine praised the two as brave voices for democracy. 

The Kenya Human Rights Commission vowed to file an international complaint over their illegal detention.

Their release ended a month of agony but opened a new fight for truth. For Njagi and Oyoo, survival is victory—yet justice remains the next battle.