Activist Bob Njagi has urged Ugandan authorities to release political detainees and respect human rights, days after his return to Kenya following more than a month in Ugandan custody.
Njagi and fellow activist Nicholas Oyoo were detained for 38 days in Uganda before being freed without charges.
Speaking in an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night, Njagi said their arrest stemmed from false intelligence suggesting they were in the country to mobilize young people for anti-government protests.
He said their captors conducted extensive investigations during their detention but found no evidence to support the allegations.
“They went through our phones and investigated for 38 days but never took us to court. If we had committed any crime, I believe they would have charged us,” Njagi said.
The activist, who has worked with youth groups across East Africa, appealed to President Yoweri Museveni’s administration to release all individuals detained for political reasons, including veteran opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
He also mentioned that one of his cellmates was reportedly a relative of a top Ugandan official who had also been detained.
Human rights organizations in Kenya and the region have previously raised concerns about arbitrary arrests in Uganda, particularly during political unrest.
According to Human Rights Watch, Uganda has faced repeated criticism for detaining opposition supporters and activists without trial, a practice that has strained relations with neighboring countries and drawn global attention.
Njagi’s detention and subsequent release come at a time when cross-border cooperation on activism and governance issues is growing among East African youth movements.
His remarks have reignited conversations among Kenyan civil society groups about the safety of citizens working on regional advocacy projects.