Agather Atuhaire, Boniface Mwangi's arrest in Tanzania unites region in condemnation
Police lead journalist and lawyer, Agather Atuhaire to the Central Police Station in Kampala following her arrest on January 9, 2025. PHOTO/ ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- “Those who have spoiled their countries should not cross over to Tanzania to spread their bad manners here. We will not give space to anyone trying to destabilise us,” President Suluhu
Human rights activists and civil society groups across East Africa are demanding for the immediate release of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist and rights defender Agather Atuhaire, who are reportedly being held at a Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The two were arrested after they had travelled to Tanzania to attend a court session for Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Lissu is currently facing treason charges stemming from a speech he delivered on April 3, 2025, in Dar es Salaam. In his address, Lissu allegedly called for public rebellion and the disruption of the upcoming October general elections, asserting that the elections should not proceed without prior electoral reforms. Authorities interpreted his remarks as incitement to overthrow the government, leading to his arrest on April 9 in Mbinga, Ruvuma Region.
Following his arrest, Lissu was transported over 1,000 kilometers to Dar es Salaam, where he was charged with treason—a non-bailable offense that carries the death penalty—and three counts of publishing false information under the Cyber Crimes Act. He pleaded not guilty to the latter charges but was not permitted to enter a plea for the treason charge.
According to social media updates from @Freedomhive_Ug on X (Formerly Twitter) and several regional human rights defenders, Mwangi and Atuhaire have been subjected to detention and interrogation without being charged.
“They did not commit any crimes,” read one of the posts by Freedom Hive Uganda, a regional civil liberties watchdog. Adding, “Unlawful detention, intimidation, and dictators commanding extrajudicial killings, torture, abductions and arbitrary arrests across our continent and region must be stopped!”
Atuhaire and Mwangi's arrest has sparked immediate backlash from human rights communities across East Africa. Social media users have condemned the move as a violation of fundamental freedoms, citing the activists’ right to attend public court proceedings and travel freely within the East African Community (EAC).
“The spirit of the East African Community must not be undermined by authoritarian practices. Respect for human rights and freedom of movement are core principles upon which the community was founded,” ” @Freedomhive_Ug wrote.
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. Photo/Courtesy/bonifacemwangi.com
Boniface Mwangi is a prominent Kenyan photojournalist, activist, and founder of Pawa254, known for his outspoken campaigns against corruption and police brutality. Agather Atuhaire is a Ugandan investigative journalist and civic rights advocate known for her work on governance and accountability.
Critics say their arrest reflects a worrying pattern of repression in the region, where security agencies increasingly target civil society actors with arbitrary detentions and harassment.
Their detention follows recent deportations of Kenyan activists from Tanzania, including political figures such as Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, along with civil society actors Hussein Khalid and Hanifa Adan. These individuals were denied entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport earlier this week.
In response to the growing regional concern, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu issued a terse warning, stating she would not allow activists from neighboring Kenya to “destabilise” Tanzania.
“We should not give a chance for them to destroy our country,” President Suluhu said in a statement published by the East African. Adding that “If there is a country that has people who have peace and are safe, it is here (Tanzania)… We will not give a chance to any creature to come and destroy us, whether it comes from within or without our borders.”
President Suluhu said, “Those who have spoiled their countries should not cross over to Tanzania to spread their bad manners here. We will not give space to anyone trying to destabilise us.”
Critics, however, see her remarks as part of an escalating crackdown on civil liberties.
“What I am doing is protecting my country, which is the key mandate I was given,” The East African quoted President Suluhu who defended the deportations and detentions.
As of publication, Tanzanian authorities had not issued a formal statement explaining the basis for the arrest or the charges, if any, facing the two activists, Atuhaire and Mwangi.
Civil society groups are now calling on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government to respect international human rights obligations and East African Community protocols on freedom of expression and movement.
“Injustice to one is injustice to all,” a post circulating on X under the hashtag #FreeBonifaceAndAgather read.
