Boniface Mwangi, Agather Atuhaire sue Tanzanian gov’t over alleged torture, seek Ksh.130M compensation

Human rights activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire, alongside seven civil society organisations, have filed a case before the East African Court of Justice.

They are accusing the government of Tanzania of grave human rights violations including enforced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention, sexual abuse and unlawful deportation.

They’re also demanding public apologies from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, plus compensation of at least USD 1 million each, which is approximatley Ksh.130 million.

The activists also seek public apologies from the three countries, rehabilitation and psychological support.

In a written statement, Boniface Mwangi described the ordeal as evil, saying it was an attempt to silence them, but they refused to stay silent.

They say they’re in court to demand justice and expose what happened behind closed doors.

"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," Boniface Mwangi said.

According to the two activists, they were abducted from their hotel in Dar es Salaam in May by unidentified individuals.

They were taken to the Immigration Department and Central Police Station in Dar es Salam, then later transferred to an unknown location where they were tortured and sexually abused. They were later dumped across the Tanzanian border; Mwangi into Kenya, Atuhaire into Uganda.

They had travelled to Tanzania to observe the treason trial of opposition figure Tundu Lissu. At no point, they say, were they told why they were being detained or who had ordered their removal.