Police Admit ‘No Leads’ in Missing Kenyan Activists

The Uganda Police Force says it has not received any information regarding two Kenyan human rights and political activists who mysteriously disappeared in Kampala a week ago.

The missing activists, Bob Nyagi and Nicholas Ayoo, reportedly travelled from Kenya to Uganda to attend political rallies of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. The duo was last seen in Kireka, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, where they were allegedly abducted.

Like the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Spokesperson, Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the force he represents is also waiting for information on the activists’ whereabouts.

Rusoke told journalists on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, said that police have not received any formal disappearance complaint regarding Nyagi and Ayoo, but added that he would inform the public once any credible information is available.

“… At the moment, I don’t have any information to the effect that they are in police custody. If I had it, I would volunteer to say it. I also don’t have information that they have been reported formerly that they disappeared,” Rusoke said.   

Kyagulanyi has since taken to his X account, accusing Ugandan security agencies of abducting the two activists “in a mafia-style operation” while they were in Kireka and driving them to an unknown destination.

“We condemn the continuing lawlessness by the rogue regime and demand that these brothers be released unconditionally. The criminal regime apparently abducted them simply for associating with me and expressing solidarity with our cause,” Bobi Wine said.

The disappearance of Nyagi and Ayoo has raised alarm among human rights defenders in the region, who have expressed concern over the safety of foreign activists in Uganda.

Their disappearance adds to a growing list of unresolved cases of missing opposition supporters and activists. Among them is Sam Mugumya, a veteran political change activist and associate of Dr Kizza Besigye, who was abducted over a month ago. 

Mugumya had expressed interest in contesting for the Rukungiri Municipality Parliamentary seat, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

As calls for accountability continue, both the Police and UPDF maintain that they have no information linking state security agencies to the disappearance of the Kenyan activists.