Lawyers file petition seeking immediate release of Kenyans detained in Uganda
Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi were reported apprehended by military operatives in Kaliro District, eastern Uganda, while accompanying Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine on a campaign trail.
A petition has been filed at the High Court of Uganda in Kampala seeking the immediate release of two Kenyan nationals, Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi, who are allegedly being held in military detention following their arrest on October 1, 2025.
The two men are reported to have been apprehended by military operatives in Kaliro District, eastern Uganda, while accompanying Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu (Bobi Wine) on a campaign trail.
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Their arrest and ongoing detention are now the subject of a Habeas Corpus application filed on their behalf by M/S Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates.
According to court documents, the respondents in the case include some of Uganda’s most senior security officials — the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), the Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Attorney General of Uganda.
The application alleges that Oyoo and Njagi are being detained incommunicado at a military facility in Mbuya, Kampala, under the command of the CDIS.
Witnessed arrest
A supporting affidavit, sworn by Koffi Atinda, a Kenyan national and friend of the detainees, recounts witnessing the arrest at Starbex Petrol Station in Kaliro.
He told the court that the two men were "bundled into a Toyota Hiace van, commonly referred to as a 'Drone,'" and whisked away towards Kampala by individuals in both military and civilian clothing.
Atinda’s affidavit highlights the growing fear among the detainees’ families and colleagues that they could be subjected to torture or other forms of inhumane treatment while in custody. He further asserts that the arrest was conducted without a warrant and in violation of both Ugandan and international law.
The petitioners argue that the continued detention of Oyoo and Njagi without being produced in court for over 48 hours is a direct violation of Uganda’s Constitution, which guarantees personal liberty and due process.
They describe the arrest and detention as "arbitrary" and a "blatant abuse" of fundamental human rights, including the right to freedom of movement, dignity, and protection from torture.
Through the application, the lawyers are asking the High Court to issue a writ of Habeas Corpus, compelling the respondents to produce the two Kenyans in court and justify their detention. They are also seeking a court order for their immediate and unconditional release.
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