Discussion on Abductions in East Africa.

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Agora Discourse
@AgoraCFROct 8, 2025

The Spaces convened East African activists, lawyers, and community voices to examine rampant abductions and enforced disappearances across Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, and to coordinate cross-border responses. The host Agatha outlined emblematic cases: Ugandan activist Sam Mugumya (ex–aide to Dr. Kizza Besigye) missing for over six weeks, and Kenyan activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyo of the Free Kenya Movement abducted in Uganda. Hussein Khalid (Vocal Africa) and Ugandan lawyer Aaron Chesa described increasing government collusion, the use of neighboring jurisdictions to blunt domestic backlash, and the slow, politicized courts that frustrate habeas corpus. Maria Sarungi Tsehai detailed systemic abductions in Tanzania since 2021, with 200+ cases and black-site detention practices; recent high-profile targets include Humphrey Polepole, while past attacks such as Tundu Lissu’s shooting were recalled. Kenyan lawyer Shallow recounted prior torture of Njagi and legal frameworks violated (EAC Treaty, ICCPR). Participants urged multi-pronged action: persistent public pressure, documentation, court filings, diplomatic pushes, protests (including a planned Kenya action), and psychological support to families. Tools proposed included X Communities and WhatsApp Channels to organize despite infiltration risks, coupled with civic education, engaging MPs and faith leaders, and maintaining public outrage against gaslighting. The session closed with a solidarity appeal to free Njagi, Oyo, Mugumya, and Polepole.

Cross-border abductions and enforced disappearances in East Africa: a comprehensive recap of the Twitter Space

Participants and roles (as identified during the Space)

  • Agatha (Host, Agora team) — Ugandan journalist/activist; previously abducted in Tanzania; moderated the discussion and coordinated speakers from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
  • Hussein Khalid (Kenya) — Activist-lawyer; associated with Vocal Africa; leading public pressure, legal and diplomatic follow-ups on missing Kenyan activists.
  • Aaron Chesa (Uganda) — Lawyer; involved in habeas corpus applications for missing persons, including the two Kenyans abducted in Uganda.
  • Maria (Tanzania; widely recognized as Maria Sarungi) — Activist; led an in-depth briefing on Tanzania’s systemic abductions/disappearances since 2021 and current cases; shared documentation strategies and tooling (X Communities, WhatsApp Channels).
  • “Shallo/Cello” (Kenya) — Advocate of the High Court; Council member, Law Society of Kenya; detailed Bob Jagi’s prior abduction in Kenya and legal context.
  • Prof. Kibwana (Kenya) — Senior statesman, professor of law, former minister/MP; provided historical perspective and civic roadmap.
  • Additional contributors: Stanley (Canada-based), “Glory Days” (Tanzania, pseudonym), Melanda (Uganda), Richard “The Blessed” (Ugandan in the Netherlands), Babu (Kenyan HRD/researcher), Henry Numba (diaspora), Irene Keiger (Uganda, NUP), Huda (Uganda), John Melody (Uganda), Anderson (Uganda), “Kinta” (pro-government view), Dennis (contrarian view on “abduction of culture”), Enoch, and others.

Note: There were musical segments at the start while waiting for speakers. The substantive discussion began once panelists joined.

Purpose and framing

  • The Space examined the surge in abductions, enforced disappearances, and unlawful detentions across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, with a special focus on cross-border repression — authorities allegedly collaborating to target dissidents outside their home countries to blunt domestic backlash.
  • The session aimed to: document current cases; compare patterns across the three countries; review legal/diplomatic avenues; identify collective actions; and build a cross-border civic response network.

Situation overview: key themes

  • No safe haven in the region: Historically, activists sought safety in neighboring East African countries. Multiple speakers now say that’s no longer viable; cross-border repression has normalized.
  • Patterns: Abductions by uniformed and plain-clothes operatives; incommunicado detention; use of “black sites”; psychological and physical torture; denials by security agencies; slow or compromised judicial processes; gaslighting narratives (e.g., “commercial activist,” “bad manners,” “foreign meddling”).
  • Legal remedies exist on paper (habeas corpus), but practice is slow, politicized, and often ineffective without intense public pressure and diplomatic escalation.
  • Documentation and solidarity are improving (social media, cross-border networks, legal filings), but fear, infiltration risks, and fatigue persist.

Country snapshots and current cases

Uganda

  • Ongoing disappearances include a high-profile case of “Sam,” described as a former aide to Dr. Kizza Besigye; missing for ~42 days at the time of the Space. A habeas corpus order was sought; security organs deny holding him. The profile and timeline strongly suggest this refers to Sam Mugumya (as stated by participants).
  • Two Kenyan activists — Bob Jagi (Chair/founder, Free Kenya Movement) and Nicholas Oyo (Secretary-General, Free Kenya Movement) — disappeared in Uganda. A witness described abductors in both uniform and plain clothes. Habeas corpus was filed in Uganda; authorities have not acknowledged custody.
  • Broader pattern: Disappearances during election cycles; military/security actors conducting arrests outside lawful processes; prolonged incommunicado detention; later production in court on weak or politicized charges.

Kenya

  • Cross-border dimension: Speakers believe Kenyan and Ugandan authorities have tacitly coordinated in some instances (e.g., handling of abductees with minimal public accountability).
  • Precedent: “Shallo/Cello” detailed the 2023 abduction of Bob Jagi in Kenya — held incommunicado ~1 month, tortured, starved — and released only after massive legal action (LSK petitions, habeas applications) and intense public/international pressure.
  • Response pipeline for the current Uganda case (per Hussein):
    • Public pressure: sustained media/social campaigns to keep cases visible.
    • Legal: close coordination with Ugandan counsel on habeas corpus.
    • Diplomacy: engagement with Kenyan authorities to escalate via diplomatic channels.
    • Protests: a formal three-day notice issued; if no news by Thursday, Free Kenya Movement planned demonstrations demanding return/production of Bob Jagi and Nicholas Oyo.
    • Family support: wellness and counseling support to relatives.

Tanzania

  • Maria reported systemic abductions and enforced disappearances have escalated since 2021 (under President Samia Suluhu Hassan). Her team’s documentation records 200+ abductions/disappearances (2021–Sep 2025), with ~60% not returning; 11 abductions noted in just the past week at the time of the Space.
  • Methods: Combined tasking between police, intelligence, sometimes army; use of “black sites,” dungeons below police cells; prolonged incommunicado detention; severe physical and psychological torture; frequent official denials in court proceedings.
  • High-profile cases referenced:
    • Humphrey Polepole (former ambassador to Cuba, ex-CCM insider turned critic): abducted violently at night; habeas filed; police deny involvement; judiciary perceived as intimidated/ineffectual by many citizens.
    • “Mdude” (widely known Tanzanian activist; multiple prior abductions; authored a book on torture and systemic abuses).
    • Tundu Lissu (survived a 2017 assassination attempt in Dodoma after broad daylight shooting).
    • Journalist Azory Gwanda (disappeared; emblematic of press-targeted repression).
  • Broader context: Initial normalization under “counterterrorism” operations in southern Tanzania expanded to critics/opposition. Participants flagged leadership accountability (e.g., appointment of IGP Camillus Wambura, alleged to have overseen past tasking) and warned of increasing repression ahead of elections.

Legal and regional frameworks (raised by speakers)

  • East African Community (EAC) Treaty: commits member states to rule of law, human rights, free movement. Cross-border abductions violate these obligations.
  • African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court: provide regional avenues for redress (some cases already filed by states against states on sovereignty/human rights grounds).
  • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): prohibits enforced disappearance and incommunicado detention.
  • Domestic law: Habeas corpus remains a core remedy, but courts are slow or influenced; security agencies often disobey orders by denying knowledge or custody.

Why “outsource” abductions across borders? (Hussein’s analysis)

  • Political calculus: abducting a well-known activist at home risks immediate mass backlash. By enlisting a neighbor to “do the dirty work,” governments aim to diffuse domestic accountability while inflicting maximum intimidation.

Tactics and patterns reported

  • Target selection: opposition leaders, activists, bloggers, whistleblowers, and those supporting opposition campaigns across borders.
  • Modus operandi: violent night pickups; mixed teams (uniformed/plain clothes); unmarked vehicles; immediate incommunicado detention; torture; denial of custody; eventual selective court production.
  • Narrative control: labeling targets as “foreign-influenced,” “commercial activists,” or accused of importing “bad manners”; gaslighting the public; social media smear campaigns; intimidation of judiciary.
  • Psychological warfare: prolonging families’ uncertainty to induce fear and silence (highlighted by Agatha’s and Maria’s testimonies about trauma and the need to humanize victims).

Responses so far (what’s working, what isn’t)

  • Legal filings: Habeas corpus keeps cases alive in the system and can produce results if coupled with public pressure. Alone, it’s often slow/ineffective.
  • Public pressure: Sustained social media visibility, press coverage, and international attention have forced releases in past Kenyan cases.
  • Diplomatic engagement: Necessary when citizens cross borders, but can be opaque and slow without domestic pressure.
  • Documentation: Meticulous cataloging (names, dates, locations, conditions, agencies implicated) underpins legal action, advocacy, and international submissions (e.g., to UN special procedures, African Commission/Court).
  • Family support: Counseling and welfare support for relatives is essential.
  • Fear barrier: Mass street action remains difficult in places with militarized policing and high risk of brutality; numbers and coordination matter for impact.

Proposals and action items from the Space

  • Build a cross-border coordination hub:
    • Set up an immediate multi-country coordination group (e.g., WhatsApp/Signal/Telegram) for organizers, lawyers, journalists, and rapid responders.
    • Leverage X Communities (e.g., Change Tanzania) for semi-public coordination; use WhatsApp Channels for safer one-way alerts/call-to-actions to mitigate infiltration risks.
  • Keep cases alive daily:
    • Maintain consistent, factual updates on missing persons (photos, last-known info, legal steps taken).
    • File habeas corpus early and publicize hearings; ensure visible solidarity at court to signal public interest to judicial officers.
    • Simultaneously file UN/ACHPR communications and notify relevant embassies and EAC Secretariat.
  • Public mobilization with options:
    • Staggered tactics beyond marches: boycotts, stay-aways, coordinated petitions to MPs and religious leaders, town-hall dialogues, professional associations’ statements (e.g., bar councils, medical associations).
    • Solidarity actions across capitals (Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma) when abductions occur in any one state; synchronize dates for cross-border impact.
    • In Kenya, proceed with the announced Thursday protests if no credible update on Bob Jagi/Nicholas Oyo; ensure legal observer networks and medical support standby.
  • Civic education and narrative defense:
    • Systematic civic education to restore a sense of outrage and counter “normalization” of disappearances.
    • Rapid-response counter-messaging against gaslighting (“commercial activist,” “bad manners,” “foreign interference” tropes) using clear legal/ethical framing and human stories (families, survivors).
  • Parliamentary and faith-leader pressure:
    • Demand MPs across all constituencies table urgent motions on disappearances and cross-border abuses; publish a public roll-call of who speaks out.
    • Engage religious councils to issue joint statements and mediate with security agencies.
  • Long-term: regional litigation and oversight
    • Develop an East Africa-wide legal consortium to pursue strategic cases at national, EACJ, ACHPR/Court levels.
    • Advocate for an EAC mechanism of mutual accountability on citizen protections and due process (parallels to EU rule-of-law dialogues).

Points of contention and counter-arguments raised

  • “Some abductees are guilty and deserve it”: A minority view argued that certain targets engaged in crimes (e.g., corruption) and thus “deserved” abduction. The panel and most participants rejected this, reaffirming that due process is non-negotiable: arrest lawfully, present in court within legal timelines, charge properly, no torture or incommunicado detention.
  • “Abduction of culture”/foreign funding narratives: One participant framed repression as a defense against foreign-funded “cultural agendas.” The host and others countered that this deflects from the core violations (disappearances/torture), which cannot be justified by ideological disagreements or allegations about external funding. The legal and human rights prohibitions stand regardless of narrative battles.

Human impact: why sustained solidarity matters

  • Survivors describe extreme isolation, torture, starvation, degradation, and long-term trauma. Families endure anguish and uncertainty (e.g., the 82-year-old mother pleading just to know if her son is alive and where to visit him).
  • Humanizing victims counters regime gaslighting and public desensitization; personal stories, photos, and family voices are powerful tools for mobilization.

Immediate priorities flagged by the Space

  • Locate and secure the release or production in court (alive or dead) of:
    • Bob Jagi and Nicholas Oyo (Kenya) — abducted in Uganda; habeas filed; Kenya to escalate diplomatically; protests planned if no news by Thursday.
    • “Sam” (Uganda; described as former aide to Dr. Kizza Besigye; widely understood in context as Sam Mugumya) — missing ~42 days; habeas corpus filed; security denies custody.
    • Humphrey Polepole (Tanzania) — abducted violently; habeas filed; police deny involvement; urgent independent verification of custody and wellbeing needed.
  • Continue documenting all new Tanzanian cases (11 in the last week reported), publish verified lists, and push coordinated regional advocacy.

Constraints and risks

  • Judicial delays and executive influence can blunt legal remedies.
  • Security agencies routinely deny custody and ignore court orders.
  • Infiltration risks in organizing spaces; surveillance of digital platforms.
  • Protester safety concerns given militarized responses; need for legal observers and medical readiness.
  • Public fatigue and fear; necessity of diversified, lower-risk participation options.

Closing notes and consensus trajectory

  • There was strong cross-border solidarity throughout the Space. The prevailing consensus:
    • Keep legal actions moving but pair them with relentless public pressure and cross-border coordination.
    • Invest in documentation, family support, and narrative defense against gaslighting.
    • Build a persistent, flexible infrastructure (digital communities, channels, legal coalitions) to respond rapidly to new cases.
    • Reclaim civic ownership and restore a shared sense of outrage: abductions and enforced disappearances must never be normalized.

The Space closed with a call to act now — each listener to ask “What have I done today, and what can I do next?” — and a collective pledge to pursue the immediate release/production of the named victims and to keep building a regional front against impunity.