Civil Society groups condemn rising autocracy, demands justice for tortured activists
The civil society groups described these acts as “crimes against humanity and a betrayal of the democratic values our people have long fought for.”
Civil society groups from Kenya and Uganda have condemned what they describe as a rise in authoritarianism across East Africa, following the detention and brutal torture of activists Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire in Tanzania.
In a press briefing, the groups have demanded accountability from the Tanzanian government and urged regional and international bodies to take immediate action.
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“We gather here today with heavy yet determined hearts. The recent unlawful detention, disappearance and torture of Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire in Tanzania is not an isolated incident—it is a symptom of a growing disease in the political fabric of East Africa,” they said in a statement.
Their statement detailed disturbing accounts of torture.
“Boniface Mwangi and Agather were blindfolded, forced to strip naked, and tied by their hands and feet, with their bodies chained, hanging below,” the group said.
The two activists were held in solitary confinement for four days, handcuffed and blindfolded, crawling to bathe themselves due to the extent of their injuries.
The civil society groups described these acts as “crimes against humanity and a betrayal of the democratic values our people have long fought for.”
As a result, they called for “an immediate explanation from the Tanzanian government on why Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire were arrested, detained and dumped in such an inhumane manner,” noting both held valid East African passports and return tickets.
They also demanded to know why no formal charges were brought, yet “unidentified armed thugs” were used to transfer them to torture chambers.
The groups further demanded “the immediate arrest and prosecution of all Tanzanian officials involved in this process,” and called for an independent investigation led by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
They urged the East African Community to convene a special meeting and include representatives from what they called the People’s Jumuiya.
“We call on legal expertise in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to support us in pursuing justice,” they said, vowing to escalate the matter through all available avenues.
They also demanded compensation for the victims and a public apology from Tanzania. Their demands extended beyond Tanzania.
They asked regional and global bodies to pressure Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to withdraw the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which they say would allow civilians to be tried in military courts.
They also called for the release of opposition leaders Tundu Lissu and Kizza Besigye, and pushed Kenya’s President William Ruto to give an account of missing youth “abducted, murdered and missing since 2024.”
“East Africa has risen up, and will pursue every avenue to expose and prosecute all those involved in crimes against humanity, from Tanzania, to Uganda and Kenya,” the groups declared.
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