Ugandan human rights activist Agather Atuhaire has been found near the Tanzanian border showing signs of torture after being detained incommunicado for several days by Tanzanian authorities, according to her rights group.
Atuhaire, head of Uganda’s Agora Centre for Research, had traveled to Tanzania with Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi to show solidarity with Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was appearing in court on treason charges. Both activists were arrested shortly after arriving and barred from attending the hearing.
Mwangi, who was released Thursday and found near the Kenyan border, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that they were “tortured,” forced to strip naked, and crawl to wash off blood from their injuries. He described hearing Atuhaire “groaning in pain” during their detention and said any attempt to communicate was met with violence and insults.
“She was dumped at the border at night by the authorities and there are indications of torture,” said Spire Ssentongo, a colleague at Agora Centre for Research, speaking to AFP. Local media reported that Atuhaire returned with visibly swollen legs, allegedly a result of the abuse.
Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights confirmed Mwangi’s return and shared images of him reunited with his family. The Kenyan government had lodged a formal protest earlier this week over his detention and the denial of consular access by Tanzanian authorities.
Tanzania’s government has yet to comment on the allegations. However, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned Monday that activists from neighboring countries would not be allowed to “meddle” in Tanzania’s affairs or create “chaos.”
Regional and international rights groups have condemned the arrests and treatment of both activists, calling for an independent investigation and demanding East African governments uphold their human rights obligations.
Atuhaire has not yet made a public statement.