Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that two missing Kenyan activists, Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, were arrested and detained by Ugandan security agents.

A revelation that has stirred regional outrage and renewed concerns about human rights in East Africa.

The activists had been missing for over five weeks, sparking protests and calls for accountability from human rights groups and political observers across the region.

According to reports, Njagi and Oyoo were last seen in October after allegedly being forced into a vehicle by masked men following a rally in support of opposition leader Bobi Wine, the BBC reported.

During a televised interview on Saturday, President Museveni admitted that Ugandan authorities held the men, referring to them as ‘experts in riots’ who were ‘put in the fridge for some days.’

He accused the pair of interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs and warned against external influence in regional politics.

“The ones who are doing that game here in Uganda will end up badly,” Museveni said

The president, who has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades and intends to run in next year’s elections, added that the activists were released following interventions from unnamed Kenyan leaders.

Njagi and Oyoo arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to a jubilant welcome from supporters and family members.

Njagi described their ordeal as harrowing; “Thirty-eight days of abduction was not easy. We didn’t think that we were going to come out alive because we were being abducted by the military.”

Kenya’s Foreign Minister, Musalia Mudavadi, confirmed that their release resulted from sustained diplomatic engagement between Kenya and Uganda.

Human rights organisation Vocal Africa hailed the activists’ return as a victory for civic activism and cross-border solidarity.