Ugandan human rights activist and lawyer Agather Atuhaire, who had been detained in Tanzania with Kenya’s Boniface Mwangi, was found safe and alive.
The activist who had been detained earlier this week was discovered near the Mutukula border between Uganda and Tanzania on the night of May 22nd 2025.
Activist Hussein Khalid, the CEO of VOCAL Africa, confirmed her release, but she was not in good condition, showing signs of torture, including swollen legs.
Both activists were held incommunicado for four days, which raised concerns among human rights activists within the region.
He said that the last time he saw Atuhaire was on the morning of 20th May.
Mwangi described what they went through as one of the worst forms of torture, saying 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
“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,” he added.
Atuhaire is currently receiving treatment and plans to return to Her return to Kampala is underway through her friends and family.
Her organisation, Agora Discourse, confirmed her safety and will provide more information later.
