Lawyers petition court over missing Kenyan activists, file habeas corpus

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The lawyers representing two Kenyan political activists, who have gone missing in Uganda, have filed a habeas corpus: An application for their production in the High Court.

The lawyers led by Eron Kiiza want Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi produced in the court dead or alive.

Court documents filed in the Civil Division of the High Court today (October 6), indicate that Oyoo and Njagi are members of the African Movement and the East African Community (EAC).

Kiiza argues that the Kenyans have the freedom to travel and move freely within the EAC region and take part in economic and other civic related activities without any hindrances.

The respondents in the matter include the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Chief of Defence Intelligence and Security (CDIS), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Attorney General of Uganda.

Court documents indicate that the duo were arrested by the respondents’ military operatives on October 1, 2025, while at a campaign trail of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine, from Kaliro district in Eastern Uganda.

The lawyers claim that the duo is illegally detained at Mbuya in Kampala, a facility manned by CDIS.

“The detention of the Kenyan activists is illegal, arbitrary and a blatant abuse of their fundamental human rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement, human dignity and freedom from torture, inhuman and degrading treatment,” Kiiza contends.

He argues that the Kenyans activists have been in detention for over 48 hours, and that they remain detained incommunicado without trial or any charges preferred against them.

Atinda Koffi, a Kenyan human rights activist, swore an affidavit, stating that he witnessed the arrest of the duo, who he said were his friends.

He argues that the arrest of the duo without an arrest warrant and by people without identification is an illegal and unlawful act.

Koffi purports that the continued detention of the duo beyond 48 hours without being charged in the courts of law as guaranteed by the Constitution is illegal, unlawful and violates their human rights and freedoms.

National Unity Platform (NUP) secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya also swore an affidavit, stating that the respondents have a duty to respect, protect and promote the fundamental liberties of the duo and all persons.

“It is important that the court brings an end to the illegal military detention of the duo and orders for their unconditional liberty,” he requested.