Tanzanian Police Accused of Torture: The Harrowing Story of Ugandan Activist Agather Atuhaire

Agather Atuhaire, a prominent Ugandan activist and leader of the Agora Centre for Research, was detained in Dar es Salaam on May 20, 2025, alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. The two were in Tanzania to observe a court hearing for opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who faces treason charges ahead of the country’s October elections. According to Reuters, their arrest came amid a broader crackdown on dissent, a stark contrast to the democratic reforms Samia Suluhu initially promised when she assumed power in 2021.

Atuhaire’s ordeal, as detailed in the Citizen TV Kenya post, is nothing short of horrifying. After being detained, she was ordered to remove her clothes, assaulted, and subjected to what she describes as rape. “They threw me down and handcuffed me… There’s one hitting under my feet so badly, the pain was too much, and another shoving something in my… so that is rape, by all standards,” Atuhaire recounted. She was later abandoned at the Mutukula border between Tanzania and Uganda on Thursday night, her legs visibly swollen from the alleged torture, as reported by Ugandan local media.

Boniface Mwangi, who was deported to the Kenya-Tanzania border earlier that day, corroborated parts of her story. He described hearing Atuhaire “groaning in pain” during their detention, adding that their captors were acting on orders from a “state security” official who instructed them to give the activists a “Tanzanian treatment.”

Human rights activists across East Africa have condemned the Tanzanian government’s actions. Nungi Githuku, an activist quoted in the Citizen TV Kenya article, demanded that those responsible, including those acting on Suluhu’s directives, be held accountable. 

Hussein Khalid, CEO of Vocal Africa, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Hatutakubali udhalimu kukita mizizi katika maeneo ya Afrika Mashariki” (We will not allow oppression to take root in East Africa). Meanwhile, Kenya’s Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka emphasized the universality of human rights, criticizing the Tanzanian government’s actions as a betrayal of the East African Community’s vision.

Martha Karua, leader of the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), has taken a more direct approach, writing to the African Union to demand immediate action against Suluhu’s administration. Her actions reflect a growing movement among activists to hold regional leaders accountable for human rights violations, particularly as the East African Community grapples with the contradiction of promoting free movement while its leaders suppress dissent.

Atuhaire’s story is a stark reminder of the challenges facing East Africa as a region. On one hand, leaders like Samia Suluhu have pushed for greater integration, with initiatives like infrastructure development and internationalist policies. On the other, the crackdown on activists and opposition figures—such as Tundu Lissu, who has been charged with treason for demanding electoral reforms—reveals a deep-seated resistance to democratic progress. 

The Tanzanian government has yet to comment on the torture allegations, but Suluhu’s earlier statement warning activists from neighboring countries not to “meddle” in her nation’s affairs signals a hardline stance. This raises a critical question: Can East Africa truly unite as a community when its leaders prioritize power over the rights of their citizens?