DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire crossed into Tanzania expecting to observe a high-profile political trial. Instead, she left the country bruised, violated, and traumatized after enduring days of alleged torture, sexual assault, and inhumane treatment at the hands of Tanzanian authorities.

Atuhaire was dumped at the Mutukula border on Thursday night, barely able to walk, her body aching from the beatings she claims were inflicted by Tanzanian security forces. Her arrest and alleged abuse mirror the ordeal of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, who was similarly detained, tortured, and later released at the Horohoro border with severe injuries. Mwangi is currently hospitalized in Nairobi.

“They Stripped Me, Beat Me, and Raped Me” – Atuhaire’s Harrowing Account

In a chilling testimony, Atuhaire described how Tanzanian officers stripped her of her clothes and dignity upon her detention.

“When I got there, the first order was to take off my clothes. Before I did anything, someone hit me on my back, and another violently tore off my clothes. They threw me down, handcuffed me, and tried to cover my injured hands with a sweater,” she narrated, adding that she was raped during her ordeal.

She was later moved to another location, where she heard Boniface Mwangi screaming in pain as their captors blasted loud music to drown out his cries.

Arrested for Observing Opposition Leader’s Trial

Atuhaire and Mwangi had traveled to Tanzania on May 18 to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, a fierce critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government. However, the activists were arrested the next day at Dar es Salaam’s Serena Hotel and held incommunicado at an undisclosed location.

For four days, they were allegedly subjected to severe beatings, torture, and psychological torment by individuals believed to be part of Tanzania’s military or intelligence services.

Amnesty International Demands Urgent Investigation

Amnesty International has called for an immediate, independent investigation into the arrests and alleged torture of the two activists.

“For four days, these human rights defenders were subjected to unimaginable cruelty. Their ordeal highlights the dangers faced by activists in Tanzania. There must be accountability and justice,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

The activists were only released after pressure from civil society groups and interventions by the Kenyan and Ugandan foreign ministries. Mwangi was found at the Kenya-Tanzania border on May 22, while Atuhaire was dumped at the Tanzania-Uganda border on May 23—both showing signs of severe physical abuse.

Tanzanian President’s Controversial Remarks

Amnesty also criticized recent remarks by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who labeled human rights defenders entering the country as “foreign agents” and called for a crackdown on their activities.

The incident has sparked international outrage, with human rights organizations demanding transparency and accountability from Tanzanian authorities.

Key Questions:

• Why were Atuhaire and Mwangi targeted?

• Who authorized their torture?

• Will Tanzania’s government face consequences for these alleged human rights violations?

As Atuhaire recovers from her trauma, activists across East Africa are calling for stronger protections for human rights defenders and an end to state-sponsored repression.