Uganda High Court Dismisses Habeas Corpus Petition for Missing Kenyan Activists
KAMPALA – The High Court of Uganda has dismissed a habeas corpus petition seeking to produce two missing Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, before the court. The two men, associated with the Free Kenya Movement, were forcibly taken by armed men from a petrol station in Kampala on October 1, 2025.
The ruling, delivered on October 22, came in response to a petition filed by lawyer Agather Atuhaire. The court dismissed the application, citing a lack of sufficient evidence to prove that the two men are in state custody. Consequently, the court reclassified Njagi and Oyoo as missing persons, a designation that alters the legal and procedural approach to their case.
The activists’ disappearance occurred shortly after they attended a political event. Their abduction has sparked significant concern and action from human rights organizations across the region.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International Kenya have been at the forefront of demanding answers and action. They have mobilized public protests, hosted online discussions using hashtags like #BringBobandNicholasHome, and circulated petitions calling for their immediate and safe release.
These groups are now urging for regional intervention, specifically appealing to the East African Community to address the matter under the provisions of the East African Community Treaty, which commits member states to uphold principles of good governance, democracy, and human rights.
The dismissal of the petition represents a significant setback for the efforts to locate the two men and has intensified calls for a more robust and transparent investigation into their whereabouts.
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