In a landmark legal challenge, prominent human rights activists Boniface Mwangi from Kenya and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda, alongside a coalition of seven civil society organizations, have formally filed a case before the East African Court of Justice. Their urgent appeal seeks to hold the Government of Tanzania accountable for what they describe as egregious human rights violations, including enforced disappearance, brutal torture, arbitrary detention, sexual abuse, and unlawful deportation, following their attempt to observe a high-profile political trial.
The Ordeal in Dar es Salaam: A Mission Turned Nightmare
The harrowing events at the core of this legal battle unfolded in May 2025. Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire had traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a clear purpose: to observe the treason trial of Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu. Lissu's case, which has garnered significant regional and international attention, is widely seen as politically motivated, with critics arguing it aims to silence dissent ahead of the October 2025 elections. As human rights defenders, Mwangi and Atuhaire sought to ensure transparency and uphold fair trial standards.
However, their mission took a sinister turn. According to their chilling accounts, they were abducted from their hotel in Dar es Salaam by unidentified individuals. . They were then reportedly taken to the Immigration Department and Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, before being transferred to an undisclosed location. It was at this clandestine site, they allege, that they endured severe torture and sexual abuse. At no point during their detention, they assert, were they informed of the reasons for their confinement or the identity of those who had ordered their detention and eventual removal.
After days of this traumatic ordeal, they were separated and summarily "dumped" across Tanzania's borders; Mwangi was left in Kenya, and Atuhaire in Uganda. Mwangi described the experience as "evil" and a deliberate attempt to silence them. Yet, despite the immense suffering, they refuse to be silenced, vowing to expose what happened "behind closed doors."
Broader Concerns: Martha Karua's Deportation and Regional Repression
This incident is not isolated and falls within a broader pattern of concern regarding the treatment of human rights defenders and opposition figures in Tanzania, and indeed, within the East African Community. Just days before Mwangi and Atuhaire's abduction, Senior Counsel and prominent Kenyan lawyer Martha Karua was herself denied entry into Tanzania and deported. . Karua, who had also traveled to Dar es Salaam to attend Tundu Lissu's treason trial as an observer, was detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport for approximately six hours before being put on a return flight to Nairobi.
Karua's deportation, along with the alleged torture of Mwangi and Atuhaire, sent a chilling message about the suppression of judicial observation and human rights advocacy within the region. Both incidents highlight concerns raised by various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, about a "campaign of repression" and "heavy-handed tactics to silence critics" in Tanzania, which the government denies. These actions, critics argue, violate fundamental principles of human rights, the rule of law, and regional treaties that bind EAC member states.
Seeking Justice: A Landmark Case Before the EACJ
Now, Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, supported by seven civil society organizations, are taking a decisive stand. They have lodged a formal complaint with the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), seeking comprehensive redress for the profound injustices they endured.
Their demands are clear and comprehensive:
- Public apologies from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya for their respective roles and failures in the incident.
- Compensation of at least USD 1 million each (approximately Ksh. 130 million each) for the grave violations they suffered.
- Rehabilitation and psychological support to help them recover from the trauma of their ordeal.
This case before the EACJ is more than just a personal quest for justice; it represents a crucial test for regional human rights mechanisms and the commitment of East African states to upholding the principles of good governance, democracy, and human rights. Mwangi and Atuhaire's courage in speaking out and pursuing legal recourse against a powerful state sends a powerful message that enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detentions against human rights defenders will not go unchallenged. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly have significant implications for human rights advocacy and regional accountability across East Africa.
What are your thoughts on Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire's case against the Tanzanian government? Do you believe the East African Court of Justice will deliver justice in this landmark human rights case? Share your views below.
