KENYAN ACTIVISTS ABDUCTED AFTER JOINING OPPOSITION RALLY IN UGANDA
Two Kenyan activists were detained by heavily armed security operatives in Uganda on Wednesday afternoon, after attending a presidential campaign event for reggae musician turned politician Bobi Wine.
According to eyewitnesses, Bob Njagi, chair of Free Kenya, and Nicholas Oyoo, the movement's secretary general, were taken into custody at a petrol station near Kampala. The activists had traveled from Kenya to Uganda on Monday to support Wine's campaign rallies in the eastern region.
In a video of an event on Tuesday, Njagi was seen on stage beside Wine, who leads Uganda's National Unity Platform party. "We are here to show our solidarity with Bobi Wine and his movement," Njagi said in the video. "We believe that he is the only one who can bring change to Uganda."
Wine's campaign has been marked by controversy, with the musician-turned-politician facing allegations of inciting violence and promoting sectarianism. However, supporters argue that he is a champion of democracy and human rights.
"We are not surprised by this development," said a spokesperson for Wine's party. "The Ugandan government has a history of silencing opposition voices, and we will continue to stand with our Kenyan friends who have come to support us."
Free Kenya, the organization led by Njagi, has been critical of Uganda's government in the past, accusing it of human rights abuses and corruption.
The abduction of the two activists has raised concerns about the safety of opposition supporters in Uganda. "This is a clear attempt to intimidate and silence opposition voices," said a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch. "We call on the Ugandan government to release the activists immediately and allow them to continue their work."
The incident comes as Wine's campaign gains momentum, with many Ugandans eager to see change after decades of rule by President Yoweri Museveni.
As of Thursday morning, the status of Njagi and Oyoo remained unclear. Their families have expressed concern for their safety, and a spokesperson for Free Kenya has called on the Ugandan government to provide information about their whereabouts.
The incident is likely to fuel further tensions between Uganda and Kenya, with some analysts predicting that it could escalate into a diplomatic crisis.
In a statement, the Ugandan government said that it was "investigating" the incident and would take action if necessary. However, opposition leaders have accused the government of trying to cover up its involvement in the abduction.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the fate of Njagi and Oyoo remains uncertain, and the implications for Uganda's already fragile democracy are far-reaching.
*Reporting by Theguardian.*
