Ugandan Activists Brutalized for Showing Solidarity with Opposition Leader

Author: Aamnah Fatima Khan

May 28, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns the heinous torture and abuse inflicted upon Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities, and demands immediate accountability for these egregious human rights violations. HRRC calls upon the Tanzanian government to respect and protect the rights of all individuals, including activists and journalists, and to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.

Photo collage of Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire. [Image credit: UGC-Agora Discourse via The Kenya Times]

Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi were arrested and brutally tortured by Tanzanian authorities for attempting to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Atuhaire, an award-winning journalist and lawyer, and Mwangi, a well-known anti-corruption activist, were arrested on Monday and kept incommunicado before being abandoned at the border, with signs of abuse.

Atuhaire described her trauma, including being stripped naked, beaten, and sexually assaulted. She said Tanzanian cops used gospel music to drown out Mwangi's screams while he was being beaten. Atuhaire has bruises on her forearms and legs, and her feet have been brutally battered.

Mwangi characterized their treatment as "worse than dogs," claiming they were chained, blindfolded, and subjected to horrific torture. The activists believed they were targeted because they supported Lissu, who is facing treason charges for allegedly encouraging revolt against the government.

The Tanzanian government has not responded to the arrests or torture claims. However, President Samia Suluhu Hassan has cautioned foreign activists not to interfere with the country's affairs, urging security agencies to take action against "ill-mannered individuals".

The incident sparked worldwide outrage, with the U.S. State Department and Amnesty International demanding an immediate inquiry into the maltreatment of Atuhaire and Mwangi. Atuhaire has promised to complain against Tanzania, stating that she would not be silenced or broken by the experience. The case shows Tanzania's intensifying assault on opposition and dissent as the country prepares for elections in October.

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Glossary 

• Abandoned: Left or deserted, often in a state of neglect or without care.

• Allegedly: said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality.

• Assault: A physical attack or violent act on someone.

• Atrocities: Extremely cruel or violent acts, often causing great harm or suffering.

• Battered: Physically harmed or injured, often repeatedly.

• Bruises: Marks on the skin caused by injury, often resulting in discoloration.

• Cautioned: Warned or advised about potential consequences or dangers.

• Dissent: Disagreement or opposition, often to authority or established views.

• Egregious: Extremely bad or shocking, often in a way that is obvious or deliberate.

• Gospel Song: A style of music borrowed from African-American Christian culture.

• Heinous: Extremely wicked or cruel, often in a way that is shocking or appalling.

• Incommunicado: Without means of communication, often in a state of isolation or confinement.

• Solidarity: unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on a community of interests, objectives, and standards.

• Treason: The act of betraying one's country or sovereign, often punishable by law.

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Sources

1. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2601834/world 

2. https://www.dw.com/en/ugandan-activist-freed-by-tanzania-indications-of-torture/a-72643543 

3. https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250524-sexually-assaulted-and-smeared-in-excrement-uganda-activist-details-torture-in-tanzania