Kenyan activists released after Uganda abduction

Two missing Kenyan activists have been released after they vanished in Uganda where they were attending a political opposition event, legal and rights groups said Saturday.

Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo went missing in October after travelling to the neighbouring east African nation to support Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, who intends to run against long-time incumbent Yoweri Museveni in elections next year.

In a brief joint statement on X, rights groups Amnesty Kenya, Vocal Africa and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said they "welcome the release of Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi last night in Busia after 38 days of their enforced disappearance".

The statement, posted by LSK head Faith Odhiambo, did not give any further details but said they were "facilitating their transfer to Nairobi".

It expressed thanks to human rights groups, as well as to the foreign ministries and to active citizens who "tirelessly campaigned for this moment".

Oyoo's older brother, Nobert Ochieng, 53, said his family was "elated" at the news.

"It was a big relief, because it's been a very tormenting and difficult month for us," he said.

Kenya's foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the two were released late Friday after "sustained diplomatic engagement".

Arrangements were underway to "ensure the two Kenyans reunite safely with their families", he added in a post on X.

The pair went missing last month, with the Ugandan police denying either activist was in custody.

Rights groups and the men's families in Kenya have agitated for their return, appealing to the Uganda court and urging the government to disclose their whereabouts.

The head of Kenyan rights group Vocal Africa, Hussein Khalid, said last month that eyewitnesses had reported that the two men were taken by "masked, uniformed and armed men, suggesting strong evidence of state involvement in their disappearance.

"It is our suspicion that the two may be detained alongside other Ugandan political detainees in military facilities," he said.

Dozens of government critics and opposition figures have been abducted in recent years across east Africa, and rights groups allege authorities are failing to protect their own citizens and even working together against activists.

In May, Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire say they were abducted and tortured by security forces in Tanzania, and received little support from their own governments.