Kenyan activists Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi have revealed that their recent trip to Uganda, which ended in an unexpected military detention, was primarily for business and family reasons. The two had planned a short visit of four to five days.
In a statement, Oyoo, the Secretary General of the Free Kenya Movement, said the activists also attended a political event in Uganda to show solidarity with opposition leader Bobi Wine.
“Bob and I have business and family interests in Uganda, that is what took us there. While we were there, we heard that Bobi Wine was having a launch for his manifesto so we decided to attend in solidarity,” Oyoo said.
The activists’ account comes after reports of their detention at a military facility in Uganda, which drew attention to the safety of foreign visitors attending political events in the country.
Oyoo described the detention as unexpected, emphasizing that their visit was initially intended to be brief.
Uganda has seen heightened security around political gatherings, particularly involving opposition figures.
Bobi Wine, a former musician turned politician, is the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) and frequently hosts public events to mobilize support for his political agenda.
Eyewitness accounts and official sources indicate that Oyoo and Njagi were apprehended shortly after attending Wine’s manifesto launch.
While details of the circumstances leading to their detention remain limited, the activists’ explanation underscores their initial intentions to combine personal business with political engagement.
The Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been notified, and diplomatic channels are reportedly engaged to ensure the activists’ safety.
Both Oyoo and Njagi have stated they plan to return to Kenya as scheduled, despite the incident.
Their experience highlights the risks associated with cross-border political participation in Uganda, particularly for foreign nationals visiting for short-term engagements.