Museveni claims Kenyans Njagi, Oyoo aiding opposition in organising riots

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has claimed that the two Kenyan nationals are working with the Ugandan Opposition to organise riots in the country.

Speaking during an interview at Mbale State Lodge on Saturday night, Museveni claimed that Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were arrested after Ugandan security agencies gathered intelligence linking them to Robert Kyagulanyi’s—also known as Bobi Wine’s—political group.

He claimed they were working for him as ‘riot experts’.

“Here we have got very good intelligence. For instance, we have got two Kenyans (Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo) whom we arrested. They have been with us, I have their names but I cannot remember them. They came and were working with Kyagulanyi’s group that they are experts in riots,” Museveni said.

The Ugandan leader said the two were detained after authorities received reports suggesting that they had been advising the Opposition on strategies for street demonstrations and unrest.

He insisted that their activities were part of coordinated efforts to destabilise the country.

Museveni defended the arrests, saying they were based on credible intelligence gathered by state security.

He maintained that Uganda would not allow foreign nationals to interfere in its internal political affairs.

His remarks come after the two activists were released by Ugandan authorities after 38 days of detention and interrogation.

Ugandan authorities had initially declined knowing their whereabouts despite court orders demanding they be presented before court.

Njagi and Oyoo’s release was announced by the Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'Oei.

Sing’Oei said Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were free and on Kenyan territory.

"Late last night, after lengthy engagements, the two were released to our High Commissioner in Uganda, Maangi Joash," he said on X.

"They were escorted by the Ambassador and officials of the Uganda government to Busia border town and were received by Busia County Commissioner, Chaunga Mwachaunga. Deeply grateful for the efforts by different actors who made this outcome possible. We shall be releasing a more detailed account later."

 On October 1, the two Kenyan activists were reported missing in Uganda under unclear circumstances.

According to reports, the duo had travelled to Uganda on Monday, September 29, with two Ugandan colleagues.

They later parted ways in Kampala, with Njagi and Oyoo said to have joined opposition politician Bobi Wine’s campaign trail in Buyende and Kamuli districts.

Njagi was reportedly seen addressing supporters at a campaign rally alongside Bobi Wine.

The following day, witnesses said the two Kenyans stopped at a petrol station in Kamuli for car repairs.

Around 3 p.m., a grey van carrying four armed individuals allegedly arrived at the station, and the men — one reportedly a woman seated in front — were said to have forced Njagi and Oyoo into the vehicle.

A third person who was with them was briefly detained but later released and told to return to the vehicle. Witnesses later reported that the activists’ phones went silent after the incident.