Ugandan Activist Alleges Rape During Detention in Tanzania

Agather Atuhaire, who was detained in Tanzania, has made shocking allegations of sexual assault while in custody, claiming she was tortured alongside fellow activist Boniface Mwangi. The situation has attracted attention from regional human rights organizations and U.S. officials, prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the alleged abuses.

A Ugandan activist, Agather Atuhaire, has made serious allegations against Tanzanian authorities, claiming she was raped during her detention. This revelation follows her arrest and subsequent incommunicado detention while in Tanzania, where she and fellow Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi aimed to show support for opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

Atuhaire describes harrowing events in detail, stating that individuals dressed in plain clothes blindfolded her, tortured her, and assaulted her before she was ultimately found abandoned at the border with Uganda. She also indicated that both she and Mwangi were subjected to severe mistreatment, including threats of violence against Mwangi.

Upon their arrest, the activists had intended to attend Lissu's court hearing, as he faced treason charges. Instead, they were detained, with Atuhaire expressing that the physical pain inflicted upon her was unbearable. With bruises corresponding to handcuffs and ongoing fears expressed during their captivity, both activists endured a nightmarish ordeal. Mwangi, writing on social media, corroborated Atuhaire’s experiences, recalling a torturous environment where they were forced to crawl and clean off blood.

The Tanzanian authorities have thus far remained silent regarding the allegations, but regional and international rights organizations are calling for a comprehensive investigation into the claims of torture and abuse. A statement from the United States Department of State highlighted the need for accountability, emphasizing that human rights violations, including torture, should never be tolerated.

Atuhaire’s situation, as well as Mwangi's previous disappearance, has raised alarm within civil society and among activists in Kenya and Uganda, prompting protests demanding justice and access to the duo during their detention. Reports indicate that both activists have since returned safely to their respective home countries, yet the fallout from their experiences continues to echo through the region, highlighting critical issues of human rights in Tanzania.