Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire have taken legal action against the government of Tanzania, accusing it of serious human rights abuses.
The two filed a case at the East African Court of Justice on Friday, July 18, demanding justice after allegedly being kidnapped, tortured, and sexually assaulted by individuals believed to be Tanzanian authorities.
In their petition, Mwangi and Atuhaire are asking for compensation of at least $1 million each, which is approximately Ksh129 million per person. They also want a public apology from the Tanzanian government for the pain and humiliation they suffered during a three-day ordeal in May 2025.
This legal step comes just a month after both activists went public with shocking accounts of being abducted and tortured while in Tanzania. The two had traveled to the country in support of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
Their ordeal, which sparked outrage across the region, has now led to a formal lawsuit supported by at least seven civil society organizations.
In addition to demanding monetary compensation, Mwangi and Atuhaire are asking for rehabilitation and psychological support to help them recover from the traumatic experience.
They also want both the Kenyan and Ugandan governments to apologize for what they describe as their involvement or failure to protect them during the incident.
In a strongly-worded statement, Mwangi described their experience as pure evil meant to break their spirit and silence their voices. “What we went through was brutal.
It was aimed at silencing us, but we are not backing down. We are taking this matter to court not just for our justice, but so the world can see what was done to us in secret,” Mwangi stated.
Mwangi was reportedly arrested on May 19 in Dar es Salaam, held at the Central Police Station, and later taken to an unknown location.
He was held incommunicado for over three days before being released on May 22. He was later deported to Kenya by road and found in Ukunda by his family and legal team.
Agather Atuhaire, on the other hand, was found dumped at the Mutukula border crossing between Uganda and Tanzania on May 23. She was in very poor physical condition and had suffered abuse during her detention, according to her lawyer, James Kamau.
Both Mwangi and Atuhaire have accused Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu’s government of being behind the torture. Mwangi also shared disturbing photos showing injuries on his feet and body, stating he could barely walk after the incident. He was later flown to Nairobi for treatment, where he is still recovering.
The case has drawn attention from across East Africa, as activists and human rights defenders call for accountability and justice.
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