Freed Kenyan Activists Allege 38 Days of Torture in Ugandan “Fridge” Detention Cell
NAIROBI – Two Kenyan activists, recently released after a 38-day detention in Uganda, have publicly detailed a harrowing ordeal of abduction, torture, and confinement in a secret military cell known as “the fridge,” alleging that over 150 political prisoners are being held without trial under the authority of President Yoweri Museveni’s son.
Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were abducted near Kampala on October 1, 2025. In a press conference, Njagi described their 38-day captivity, during which they were held across multiple Ugandan military facilities, including a Special Forces Command (SFC) centre. They reported being subjected to beatings, isolation in a freezing cold cell, and intense interrogations.
The activists claim their detention is linked to their involvement in Kenya’s 2024 Gen Z protests and that Ugandan Special Forces were aiding the Kenyan government’s crackdown on dissent. Upon his release, Njagi stated he left behind “over 150” Ugandan citizens in similar conditions, some detained for up to a year without any court process.
“This is an armed militia that is operating under General Muhoozi,” Njagi alleged, referring to the President’s son and the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. “There are so many Ugandans there… That is what they call the fridge.”
He described the situation as a “crime against humanity,” though he conceded that President Museveni may not be fully aware of the unit’s activities, as it “reports to no one except him [Muhoozi].”
President Museveni previously confirmed the Kenyans’ detention, stating that security officials informed him the two had “sneaked into the country to organize protests” with Uganda’s main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP). He praised security forces for “acting fast to neutralise them.” The activists were reportedly warned against ever returning to Uganda upon their release on November 9, a move believed to be the result of mounting international pressure.
In a new development, the activists are now turning their attention to Tanzania. Bob Njagi has announced plans for a regional border shutdown on December 9, 2025, in solidarity with Tanzanians protesting the recent presidential election. He disputed the legitimacy of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s victory, which was declared with approximately 98% of the vote amid an opposition boycott, a crackdown, and internet shutdowns.
“The on December 9th… we are going to shut Kenyan borders in solidarity with Tanzanians who are being forcefully ruled,” Njagi declared.
The allegations have sparked serious concerns about cross-border repression and human rights abuses in the East African region, putting a spotlight on the operations of Uganda’s elite military units. There has been no immediate official response from the Ugandan or Kenyan governments to the activists’ detailed torture claims.
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