Renowned Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire, together with seven civil society organisations, have filed a case before the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) accusing the Tanzanian government of gross human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention, sexual abuse, and unlawful deportation.
The applicants are seeking at least USD 1 million (approx. Ksh.130 million) each in compensation, alongside public apologies from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, whom they accuse of complicity or failure to protect their rights.
The case stems from a disturbing incident in May 2024, when Mwangi and Atuhaire were abducted in Dar es Salaam by unidentified individuals. The duo say they were initially held at the Immigration Department and Central Police Station, before being moved to an undisclosed location where they allege they were tortured and sexually assaulted. They were later deported, Mwangi across the Kenyan border, and Atuhaire into Uganda, without explanation or formal charges.
In a statement, Mwangi condemned the ordeal as an “evil” attempt to silence their voices. “What happened to us was evil and meant to silence us, but we refused. We are going to court not only to fight for justice, but to show the world what happened to us in the dark,” he said.
The activists had travelled to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition politician Tundu Lissu, a prominent critic of the Tanzanian government. They assert that at no time were they informed of the reason for their arrest or the authority behind their removal.
The legal challenge also demands rehabilitation and psychological support, alongside structural reforms to prevent similar abuses. It represents a rare high-profile attempt to hold East African states accountable for cross-border violations of civil and political rights.
So far, none of the three governments named in the suit have publicly responded to the case. The EACJ is expected to set a hearing date in the coming weeks.
Written By Rodney Mbua
