Ugandan Activist Claims Rape and Torture During Tanzanian Detention

Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan activist arrested in Tanzania, has alleged that she was raped and tortured while in detention alongside fellow activist Boniface Mwangi. Despite her harrowing experience, Tanzanian authorities have yet to comment on her claims.

A Ugandan activist, Agather Atuhaire, has made grave allegations of rape and torture against Tanzanian authorities after her recent incarceration in Tanzania. Her comments follow an earlier report from the rights group she leads, which noted "indications of torture" upon her release. Atuhaire detailed her ordeal to the BBC, claiming that she was blindfolded, violently stripped, and sexually assaulted by individuals in plain clothes during her detention.

Atuhaire and fellow Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi had crossed into Tanzania to support opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who has faced treason charges. After days of holding the activists without communication, Atuhaire was found abandoned at the border late Thursday. Mwangi also recounted his own experience of torture, stating they had been forced to strip and were threatened with violence during their captivity.

The activists' situation has raised alarm with regional rights organizations and the U.S. Department of State, which expressed deep concern over their treatment. They have called for an immediate investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses. Atuhaire showcased visible signs of her ordeal, including scars from being handcuffed, while emphasizing the psychological and physical trauma endured.

As regional tensions escalate, President Samia Suluhu Hassan previously warned that she would not tolerate external interference in Tanzania's affairs. Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has voiced its objections to the treatment of Mwangi, demanding consular access during his detention.

Calls for scrutiny into the incident have intensified, urging East African countries to honor human rights treaties, as activists nationwide rally to support those fighting for democracy and justice in the region.