Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire has come forward with harrowing allegations of rape and torture during her detention in Tanzania, where she was held incommunicado alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. The two had travelled to Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was facing treason charges in court. They were arrested despite being allowed entry into the country.
In an emotional interview with the BBC, Atuhaire revealed that she was blindfolded, stripped, hit, and sexually assaulted by people dressed in plain clothes while in custody. She described the experience as “painful and terrifying”, showing a scar from where she had been handcuffed. “I screamed so hard that they had to cover my mouth,” she said, recounting the trauma she endured during the ordeal.
Atuhaire was eventually found abandoned at the Uganda-Tanzania border on Thursday night after being held since Monday. The Uganda-based Agora Centre for Research, which she heads, had earlier said she showed “indications of torture”. Uganda’s high commissioner to Tanzania, Fred Mwesigye, confirmed that she had safely returned home and was “warmly received” by her family.
Mwangi, who was also found dumped near the Kenyan border, corroborated her account, stating that he too was tortured. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said they were forced to strip, bathe in pain, and crawl due to injuries. He added that their captors acted under orders from a Tanzanian state security official, who called for the activists to receive a “Tanzanian treatment.”
The Tanzanian government has yet to comment on the allegations, even as pressure mounts for accountability. The US Department of State’s Bureau of Africa Affairs expressed deep concern, highlighting Atuhaire’s recognition as a 2024 International Women of Courage Awardee. “We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses,” the bureau said.
Regional rights organisations and the Kenyan government have demanded investigations into the mistreatment and urged East African nations to honour their human rights commitments. The disturbing incident has reignited fears about the shrinking space for civic engagement and cross-border activism in the region.
