Outrage as Activists Mwangi and Atuhaire Accuse Tanzanian Authorities of Torture and Sexual Assault

NAIROBI, Kenya – June 4, 2025
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan human rights campaigner Agather Atuhaire have come forward with harrowing allegations of torture, sexual assault, and illegal detention while in the custody of Tanzanian authorities—a revelation that has ignited regional outrage and renewed scrutiny over state-sanctioned human rights violations in East Africa.

The two were arrested in Dar es Salaam last week while attending a legal hearing in solidarity with a prominent Tanzanian opposition leader. What began as a gesture of democratic support, they say, turned into a nightmare.

“Beaten, Stripped, Violated”

In emotional statements posted to social media upon their release and return to their respective countries, both Mwangi and Atuhaire described enduring physical beatings, degrading treatment, and invasive interrogations during their detention.

“I was blindfolded, stripped, and beaten,” Mwangi wrote. “They made it clear: being a foreign activist was enough to be branded an enemy of the state.”

Atuhaire, in a separate statement, accused Tanzanian officers of sexual harassment and assault, adding that the experience had left her “deeply traumatized but unbroken.”

Their disturbing accounts have triggered a wave of condemnation from regional and international human rights watchdogs, who are now calling for independent investigations into the alleged abuses.

Diplomatic Pressure Mounts

Back in Nairobi, calls are growing louder for the Kenyan government to demand accountability and ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.

“No Kenyan should suffer such brutality without consequence,” said one senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “This is not just a Tanzanian issue—it’s a regional human rights crisis.”

Civil society groups in Uganda and Kenya have demanded immediate diplomatic intervention and a formal inquiry through the East African Community (EAC), warning that continued silence could embolden oppressive regimes across the region.

A Test for Regional Human Rights Commitments

The allegations come at a time when East African nations have pledged stronger cooperation on human rights protection through regional blocs like the African Union and EAC. Critics now say those commitments are being exposed as hollow in the face of unchecked security agency abuses.

“This is about more than two brave individuals,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International Kenya. “It’s about whether East African governments will uphold the very rights they claim to protect—or weaponize law enforcement against those who dare to speak out.”

Next Steps

Mwangi and Atuhaire say they are exploring legal options and plan to file formal complaints with regional human rights bodies, including the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights. They’ve also called on fellow activists, journalists, and lawmakers to keep public pressure high until justice is served.