Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — June 3, 2025
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire have accused Tanzanian authorities of illegally detaining and sexually assaulting them during a recent visit to Dar es Salaam. The two were in Tanzania to attend a court hearing involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu when the incident allegedly occurred.
Speaking publicly, Mwangi and Atuhaire recounted harrowing details of their detention, claiming they were held without formal charges and subjected to physical and sexual abuse by security personnel. According to their statements, the arrest took place shortly after they arrived at the courthouse, where they had intended to show solidarity with Lissu, a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration.
Mwangi, a prominent figure in Kenya’s civil society known for his activism and outspoken views on governance, said the abuse was “calculated and brutal,” aimed at silencing dissent and intimidating regional allies of Tanzania’s opposition. Atuhaire, an investigative journalist with a history of reporting on political repression, described the ordeal as “dehumanizing and deeply traumatizing.”
The pair have since returned to their respective countries and are demanding international intervention. They have called on human rights organizations, the African Union, and the United Nations to investigate the conduct of Tanzanian authorities and to hold those responsible accountable.
“These are not isolated incidents,” Mwangi said during a press conference in Nairobi. “This is a systematic effort to crush political freedom and solidarity across East Africa.”
Atuhaire echoed the call for justice, emphasizing the need for regional governments to protect the rights of journalists and human rights defenders. “We cannot be silent. We cannot allow borders to be barriers to justice,” she said.
Tanzanian officials have yet to respond publicly to the allegations. The incident has sparked an outcry from civil society organizations across East Africa, with several groups issuing joint statements condemning the reported abuses and demanding transparency from Tanzanian authorities.
As of this report, no official investigation has been announced. The international community is watching closely, as the allegations raise fresh concerns about the state of civil liberties and press freedom in Tanzania.
