Activist Bob Njagi has claimed that Ugandan soldiers took part in the Gen Z protests that recently rocked Kenya.
In an interview on Wednesday, November 12, Njagi said the Ugandan troops were sent across the border disguised as Kenyan police officers to suppress protesters.
"One shocking revelation is that there were some soldiers who revealed to me that they participated in the Gen Z protest in Kenya. They were moved from Uganda as military dressed in Kenyan police uniform to come and quell the riots in Kenya.
"This is a collaboration between States that is why you are seeing what is happening in Kenya resonating in Uganda and Tanzania," he said.
Njagi, who was recently released after 38 days in Ugandan custody, said his ordeal there was harrowing but still less brutal than what he endured during his abduction in Kenya.
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"My abduction experience in Kenya was worse; it was nothing compared to what I went through even during these 38 days in Uganda. I’d rather in Uganda," he added.
Njagi alleged that Ugandan authorities detained him and others based on false intelligence suggesting they were planning to mobilize youth protests within Uganda.
Despite an extended period of detention, he said they were never charged with any crime.
"I think our captors had been given wrong intelligence that we were there on a mission to mobilize young people to protest. They went through our phones and they’ve had 38 days of doing investigations but they have not taken us to court to charge us with any crime.
"If we had been participating in any illegal activities, I am sure the Ugandan government would have charged us in court," he further said.
Following the abduction, Njagi described being taken to a military installation outside Kampala, where he was detained with both Ugandan civilians and other foreigners.
"After abduction, we were driven to a military camp outside Kampala. It’s a camp used specifically to train the special forces command who are responsible for the security and safety of the first family. We were held in cells alongside other foreign nationals and Ugandan civilians," he stated.
Despite his ordeal, Njagi expressed willingness to return to Uganda in the future.
"Given another opportunity to go to Uganda, I would like to go and visit Uganda for business purposes, for social purposes and even for political reasons if need be but within the Constitution of Uganda," he said.
This comes barely a week after Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo were released and handed over to Kenyan authorities after missing for over a month in Uganda.
The duo was abducted in Kenya's western neighbour early last month while in the campaign of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine.
They were reportedly picked up by armed men while at a petrol station in Kampala moments after they attended Bobi Wine's rally.
On Saturday, November 8, Vocal Africa reported that Njagi and Oyoo were found in Busia.
The duo was released and handed over to Kenya's High Commissioner in Uganda, who facilitated their travel to Busia, where they were received by County Commissioner Chaunga Mwachaunga.
Vocal Africa thanked the Kenyan and Ugandan governments for helping in their release.
"We welcome the release of Nicholas Oyoo and Bob Njagi after 39 days of their enforced disappearance. We extend our appreciation to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments at the highest level and the immediate former president of Kenya for their cooperation towards their safe return.
"We thank their families, Free Kenya movement colleagues, human rights defenders, journalists, diplomats, and active citizens who have tirelessly campaigned for this moment," Vocal Africa said in its statement.
On his part, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei appreciated the efforts by the Kenyan mission in Kampala, who strove to locate them.
"Deeply grateful for the efforts by different actors who made this outcome possible. We shall be releasing a more detailed account later," he said.
