Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire finally freed after arrest in Tanzania
Both Atuhaire and Mwangi were held without contact with their lawyers or families, raising alarm over their safety and whereabouts.
Human rights lawyer and journalist Agather Atuhaire has been released after being held incommunicado for days in Tanzania.
Agora Discourse, where she works as the team lead, confirmed her release on Friday morning through its deputy team leader, Godwin Toko.
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“Finally, Agather has been found, and I have talked to her via her sister’s phone right now. She was picked from the border,” Toko posted on X.
The specific border was not mentioned, though Uganda’s main crossing with Tanzania is at Mutukula in Kyotera.
Atuhaire was arrested on Monday, May 19, shortly after arriving in Dar es Salaam to join a regional team observing the court proceedings of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Her detention, alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, sparked concern from human rights groups and diplomats.
Agora said she was arrested by plain-clothed men who claimed to be Tanzanian police.
Both Atuhaire and Mwangi were held without contact with their lawyers or families, raising alarm over their safety and whereabouts.
A formal appeal from Agora and Atuhaire’s sister, Annexe Atukunda, said efforts to reach her had failed, while Uganda’s High Commission wrote to Tanzanian police asking to visit her and requesting an explanation for her arrest.
Although reports earlier in the week suggested both activists had been freed, they could not be located afterwards. It was later revealed that they had been stopped from leaving the country.
Kenyan activist Mwangi was also released and dropped at the border on Thursday morning. His case drew sharp reactions in Kenya, while Uganda was criticised for its slow response in helping Atuhaire.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu had warned foreign activists not to interfere with the country’s affairs, amid growing tension around Lissu’s trial.
Toko said more information would be shared later and thanked everyone who had supported efforts to locate and free Atuhaire. “We thank all who did all they did towards this,” he said
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