Renowned human rights activists Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Agather Atuhaire of Uganda have detailed the harrowing abuse they endured during their recent visit to Tanzania. The two had traveled to show solidarity with Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, charged with treason, but their trip turned into a nightmare of torment, sexual abuse, and humiliation at the hands of alleged state operatives and hired gangs.
Arrest and Initial Ordeal
On May 18, 2025, the activists were forcibly taken from their hotel and transferred between multiple police stations. Mwangi and Atuhaire were subjected to interrogations by immigration officers before being handed over to individuals who inflicted brutal abuse.
According to Mwangi, the torment began at a police station, where the activists were physically assaulted in the presence of their legal team. “The officers accused me of trying to destroy their country and began beating me,” Mwangi recounted.
Sexual Assault and Physical Torture
Both activists were blindfolded and driven to an undisclosed location that served as a torture chamber. Mwangi described being stripped, tied upside down, and beaten on his feet while gospel music blared in the background to drown out his cries.
The abuse escalated to sexual assault, with objects forcibly inserted into their bodies. “They demanded I say ‘Asante Samia’ while inflicting the worst pain imaginable,” Mwangi said, referencing Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Atuhaire recounted similar experiences, highlighting the calculated brutality of the perpetrators. “The gang’s orders were clear—inflict as much pain as possible,” she stated.
Psychological Torment
The physical abuse was accompanied by psychological torture. Atuhaire described being blindfolded and driven for hours, imagining she would be abandoned in a forest or thrown into the ocean.
Release and Aftermath
On May 22, Mwangi was dropped at the Kenya-Tanzania border with a small sum of money for transport, while Atuhaire was released under similarly humiliating conditions. Despite their ordeal, the activists remain resolute, vowing to pursue legal action against Tanzanian authorities.
Atuhaire expressed deep concern over the region’s state of human rights, calling out what she described as open impunity. “If East Africans are not alarmed by this, the future is grim,” she warned.
Solidarity and Resilience
Both Mwangi and Atuhaire credited their survival to the support and outcry of ordinary East Africans. “We are alive today because of you. No guns, no money—just your voices,” Atuhaire stated.
The activists have pledged to seek justice and continue advocating for human rights across the region.
