Ugandan human rights activist Agather Atuhaire was found abandoned at the Tanzania-Uganda border on Thursday night, May 22, 2025, showing signs of torture after days of incommunicado detention in Tanzania. Atuhaire, a prominent lawyer and journalist, was arrested alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi while attempting to attend the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu in Dar es Salaam on May 19, 2025. The incident has sparked regional outrage, with human rights groups demanding investigations into the alleged mistreatment by Tanzanian authorities.
Atuhaire, executive director of Uganda’s Agora Centre for Research, was detained with Mwangi after being denied access to Lissu’s court hearing, despite initially being allowed into Tanzania. Mwangi, released a day earlier and found abandoned near the Kenyan border, detailed their ordeal in a post on X: “We were tortured, told to strip naked, and crawl to wash off the blood. We couldn’t walk.” He reported hearing Atuhaire “groaning in pain” during their detention, with attempts to communicate met with “kicks and insults.” Mwangi alleged their torturers acted under orders from a “state security” official who mandated a “Tanzanian treatment.”
Agora Centre for Research confirmed Atuhaire’s release, stating she was “dumped at the Mutukula border” and is now under the care of family and friends. Spire Ssentongo, a fellow activist, told AFP that Atuhaire had “visibly swollen legs” and other signs of torture. Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Fred Mwesigye, said she had “safely returned home” but local media reported her physical distress, citing close associates. Atuhaire has not yet spoken publicly about her experience.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned on May 19, 2025, against foreign activists “meddling” in Tanzania’s affairs, a statement made amid rising tensions over Lissu’s treason charges, which carry a potential death penalty. The government has not commented on the torture allegations, despite growing calls from East African rights groups for an investigation and adherence to regional human rights treaties.
Mwangi’s release on Thursday, after four days of detention, prompted protests in Kenya, with the Kenyan government accusing Tanzania of denying consular access. The detentions have fueled concerns about a crackdown on political activism in Tanzania, particularly as Lissu’s trial highlights government efforts to suppress opposition ahead of the October 2025 elections.
Atuhaire, a 2024 International Women of Courage Award recipient, is known for her work on governance and accountability in Uganda. Her detention has drawn global attention, with activists like Hussein Khalid of VOCAL Africa calling for justice: “Her resolve remains strong, but justice must be pursued for the principles of freedom.
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