The already tense atmosphere surrounding human rights in East Africa has just taken a dark and disturbing turn. Following the arrest in Tanzania of Ugandan activist and journalist Agather Atuhaire, who had traveled to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu at his treason trial, a chilling update has emerged. According to the Ugandan rights group Agora Discourse, Atuhaire was "abandoned at the border by Tanzanian authorities" on Friday, May 23rd, and tragically, showed "signs of torture."
This grim news echoes earlier reports concerning Kenyan anti-corruption campaigner Boniface Mwangi, who was detained at the same time and released a day prior, visibly shaken and alleging brutal torture. Together, these incidents paint a worrying picture of a potential crackdown on democratic voices and human rights across the East African region, seemingly validating the concerns raised recently by figures like Kenya's Martha Karua.
Atuhaire's journey to Tanzania, alongside Mwangi, was one of solidarity, aiming to support Tundu Lissu as he faced serious charges in court on Monday. However, their presence as observers appears to have been met with hostility. Both activists were arrested shortly after the hearing and held incommunicado, their whereabouts unknown for a period that sparked international concern.
While Tanzanian police initially suggested the pair would be deported by air, the reality was far more harrowing. Mwangi was discovered on Thursday, seemingly abandoned on a roadside in northern Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. Now, the confirmation that Atuhaire has also been found, albeit at the Ugandan border and with alleged signs of torture, sends a chilling message.
Agora Discourse's initial statement, "relieved to inform the public that Agather has been found," was quickly tempered by the co-founder Jim Spire Ssentongo's confirmation to AFP news agency that there were indeed "indications of torture." The specifics of this alleged torture remain deeply concerning and highlight the potential dangers faced by human rights defenders in the region.
These events unfold against a backdrop of increasing accusations of authoritarianism leveled against Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, adding to broader worries about the state of democracy across East Africa. Activists who had intended to observe Lissu’s trial have gone as far as accusing Tanzania of "collaborating" with Kenya and Uganda in what they perceive as a "total erosion of democratic principles."
Several high-profile political arrests have already cast a spotlight on President Hassan's human rights record, particularly as she gears up to seek re-election in October. While the Tanzanian leader has publicly stated her government's commitment to respecting human rights, her warning earlier this week against "ill-mannered individuals from other countries" interfering during Lissu's court appearance now carries a sinister weight. "Do not allow ill-mannered individuals from other countries to cross the line here," she instructed security services, a statement that seems to have foreshadowed the treatment of Mwangi and Atuhaire.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, several activists from Kenya, including a former justice minister, reported being denied entry into Tanzania as they attempted to attend Lissu's trial, further suggesting a deliberate effort to limit external scrutiny.
Upon his return to Nairobi, a clearly traumatized Boniface Mwangi recounted the brutal experience he and Atuhaire allegedly endured. "We were both treated worse than dogs, chained, blindfolded and underwent a very gruesome torture," he chillingly told reporters.
The International Commission of Jurists in Kenya has also weighed in, stating unequivocally that "The Government of Tanzania cannot hide behind national sovereignty to justify committing serious crimes and human rights violations against its own citizens and other East Africans."
The alleged torture and abandonment of Agather Atuhaire at the border is a deeply disturbing development that sends shockwaves through the human rights community in East Africa and beyond. It raises serious questions about the treatment of activists and the respect for fundamental human rights within the region. The full extent of the alleged torture and the motivations behind these actions must be brought to light.
