The United States (US) has called for an immediate and full investigation into claims of mistreatment of two East African activists, Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi and Uganda’s Agather Atuhaire, in Tanzania.
The Department of State’s African Bureau, in a statement issued via social media on Saturday, May 24, 2025, raised concerns over the widespread reports of the duo’s mistreatment, a day after they were set free and deported by the road by the Tanzanian authorities.
While raising the concerns, the US said Atuhaire was recognised by the Department of State in 2024 as an International Women of Courage awardee.
The Donald Trump-led country further termed the incident as human rights abuse, urging all countries in the East African region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture.
“The United States is deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment in Tanzania of two East African activists – Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi. Atuhaire was recognised by @StateDept in 2024 as an International Women of Courage Awardee. We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. We urge all countries in the region to hold to account those responsible for violating human rights, including torture,” the statement read.
Mwangi rushed to hospital
Boniface Mwangi was wheeled into Moi International Airport on Thursday, May 22, 2025, looking visibly frail and barely able to walk, ahead of an emergency airlift to Nairobi for specialised treatment.
The dramatic scenes unfolded as supporters and fellow activists chanted, “Torture wee baki nyuma, sisi tutaenda na haki” (Torture, stay behind—we will go with justice), underscoring the emotional weight of the moment.
Mwangi’s condition has stirred public outcry following claims that he was tortured while in the custody of Tanzanian authorities.
He had travelled to Dar es Salaam to attend a court hearing for Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges.
Mwangi was arrested alongside Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire and later deported by road to Kenya.
Agather found
Atuhaire, who had been detained in Tanzania alongside Mwangi, was found hours later.
She had been abandoned at the Mutukula border between Uganda and Tanzania, where she was found.
Activist Hussein Khalid, the CEO of VOCAL Africa, confirmed the release of Agather, explaining that her condition was not good and calling for justice for the activists.
“Tortured, wounded, broken body but determined spirit. Agather has been found. They must pay for what they did to Boniface Mwangi and Agather. Justice must be done and seen to have been done,” Khalid stated.
Mwangi recounts torture
Mwangi, after the release, described the ordeal as the worst form of torture, alleging that they were threatened with public humiliation if they revealed details of their experience of treatment.
“Everything that happened to us in Tanzania was done in Samia Suluhu’s name, and we will ensure the world gets to know. We shall speak for the Tanzanian victims who are too afraid to speak,” Mwangi wrote in the statement.
“What Suluhu did to us will be revealed to the world. We shall not be silenced by a torturous dictator who has her foot on the necks of the Tanzanian people,” Mwangi said.
