Date: May 22, 2025
By: BlogHear News Desk
A Ugandan human rights activist, Agather Atuhaire, has been found at the Tanzania-Uganda border showing signs of torture, after being detained incommunicado for several days by Tanzanian authorities, her rights group confirmed on Thursday.
Atuhaire, a prominent figure from the Agora Centre for Research, had been held alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi after traveling to Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faced a treason hearing in court earlier this week.
“We Were Told to Crawl and Wash Off the Blood”
Mwangi, who was found near the Kenyan border on Thursday, recounted disturbing details of their detention in a post on social media platform X.
“We had been tortured, and we were told to strip naked and to go bathe. We couldn’t walk and were told to crawl and go wash off the blood,” Mwangi wrote.
According to Mwangi, the two were tortured for attempting to attend Lissu’s court hearing, despite being legally allowed into Tanzania. They were later separated and released in different locations.
Tanzanian Authorities Silent Amid Growing Outcry
The Tanzanian government has yet to respond to the torture allegations. However, President Samia Suluhu Hassan issued a warning on Monday, stating she would not permit foreign activists to “meddle” in Tanzania’s internal affairs or incite “chaos.”
Late Thursday, Atuhaire was reportedly abandoned by Tanzanian authorities at the Uganda border. A statement by the Agora Centre for Research on X confirmed her release, noting that she was “visibly injured and traumatized.”
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Fred Mwesigye, said she had “safely returned home” and was “warmly received by her family.”
Visible Injuries and Calls for Justice
Local media in Uganda reported that Atuhaire had swollen legs and was in visible pain—allegedly resulting from mistreatment during her detention.
“She was dumped at the border at night… and there are indications of torture,” said Agora fellow activist Spire Ssentongo in a statement to AFP.
Mwangi, who has since returned to Kenya, said he had heard Atuhaire “groaning in pain” during their time in custody.
“Any attempt to speak to each other during the night we were tortured was met with kicks and insults,” he said, adding that their captors were taking orders from a state security official.
Atuhaire has yet to speak publicly about her experience.
Regional and International Response
Mwangi’s earlier disappearance sparked mass concern across Kenya, prompting protests from civil society organizations and human rights groups. On Wednesday, the Kenyan government formally protested to Tanzania, accusing authorities of denying consular access to Mwangi despite multiple requests.
In a separate statement, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that it had been unable to locate or communicate with the detained activist.
Regional rights organizations have called for an independent investigation into the alleged torture and demanded that East African governments uphold human rights standards and treaties.
For more updates on human rights and political developments across Africa, visit BlogHear.com — where clarity meets truth.
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