Kenyan activists came to train Ugandans in rioting — Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni says the two Kenyan activists released and handed over to Kenyan authorities last week had come to Uganda to train youths in organising riots.

Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi were released from detention on Friday (November 7, 2025) and handed over to Kenya's High Commissioner in Uganda, Joash Maangi, who, together with Ugandan officials, escorted them to the Uganda–Kenya border in Busia district.

They were reportedly arrested in Jinja district on September 29, 2025, while attending the launch of the National Unity Platform party manifesto for next year’s general election.

During his interaction with the journalists, Museveni also warned that the Government will crush any Opposition group that dares to disturb the existing peace in Uganda. (PPU Photos)

“We got two Kenyans whom we arrested. They came and were working with (Robert) Kyagulanyi’s group - that they were experts in riots. So, they had come to train our people. Of course, with our very good intelligence system, we picked them up and they have been in the fridge for some days,” Museveni said.

He made the remarks on Saturday evening (November 8, 2025) while interacting with journalists from the Busigu region during a live radio and TV talk-show at State Lodge in Mbale city.

“Now, some Kenyan leaders rang me and said I should either put them in jail here or hand them back,” he added.

Warns peace saboteurs

During his interaction with the journalists, Museveni also warned that the Government will crush any Opposition group that dares to disturb the existing peace in Uganda.

“I must warn the ones misleading these children that they will end up badly… like when they had those riots on November 18, 2020 [saying] that ‘Kyagulanyi has been arrested, they will burn Kampala’; the army intervened and crushed them, some of the children died,” he said. 

He laughed off journalists’ remarks on the recent events that unfolded in neighbouring Tanzania being organised here.

Hundreds of people were killed in Tanzania during three days of protests following the general election held on October 29, 2025, that saw incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan declared winner.

“Nobody can play those games here. You go and play those games in other parts of Africa, but not here. We normally follow all those shallow things. Some of our young people also misinform the foreigners; they think that Uganda is just like… I don’t know, but nobody can disturb our peace,” Museveni said.

Museveni, who is seeking re-election next year on the National Resistance Movement party ticket, stressed that anybody who tries to disturb the existing peace, will just be picked up and that will be the end of the story.

“If anybody tries to disturb our peace, we shall easily deal with him. You saw what happened to people who came from near the Congo border. They were finished in a very short time,” he said.

Ten assailants were killed and 30 others arrested on November 1 after a coordinated early-morning attack on Kasese Police Barracks and a Police post in Rugendabara town council, which left six Police officers injured.

'No bail'

Museveni also said they are very strict with their lawyers nowadays.

“We no longer want this game: Somebody has done bad things then is given bail. It becomes like a game. And I am glad that even the courts are quite serious now. They no longer give bail to all these wrongdoers,” he said.

However, he noted that they normally crush the Opposition’s plots by counter-mobilisation.

He stated that any angry group can stage a protest demonstration in areas such as Kololo Independence Grounds as long as they do not attack anybody or burn buildings.

“If you are angry, you can demonstrate and go to Kololo to show you are not happy, but don’t attack anybody. Just show you don’t agree with what I’m doing. If you take over as a new government and you previously burnt everything, what will you take over?” he asked.

Museveni said they are monitoring all the groups that are plotting chaos in Uganda.

“They all have connections with foreign countries, foreign groups funding them. Foreigners are very worried about Uganda, which is moving very strongly, industries are growing, we don’t lack anything, we are now going to get our oil,” he said.

 "So, those are the groups sponsoring these children to do bad things, but they are easy to deal with,” he said.

He stated that the unnamed foreign groups have been trying to cause chaos and burn Kampala for a long time. 

“So, those are the groups sponsoring these children to do bad things, but they are easy to deal with. Like the other time (2021) [they said] tajja kulayira (he will not swear in)!” Museveni said.