The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist Agather Atuhaire have taken legal action against the Tanzanian government at the East African Court of Justice, accusing it of abduction, torture, and illegal deportation.
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The case, filed on July 18 in Arusha, also targets the governments of Kenya and Uganda, along with East African Community (EAC) Secretary General Veronica Nduva, for allegedly failing to uphold human rights and protect their citizens.
The petition stems from incidents that occurred between May 19 and May 23, when Mwangi and Atuhaire were allegedly kidnapped from their hotel in Dar es Salaam by unidentified agents.
They claim they were first held at the Immigration Department and Central Police Station before being taken to unknown locations where they were tortured — including sexually — and later dumped at the borders of Kenya and Uganda.
The two assert they were in Tanzania legally to monitor the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu and were never informed of any legal grounds for their arrest or deportation.
They accuse Tanzanian authorities of orchestrating their mistreatment and fault Kenya and Uganda for not intervening diplomatically. They also criticize the EAC leadership for remaining silent despite the public outcry.
“This isn’t just about our experience,” said Donald Deya, CEO of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), which is backing the suit. “It’s about protecting human dignity, justice, and East African values.”
Seven civil society and legal organizations, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the East Africa Law Society, have joined the case.
Mwangi described the ordeal as “state-sponsored evil,” emphasizing the importance of seeking justice and exposing what he termed tools of oppression. Atuhaire stressed the case’s significance in defending civic space in East Africa.
The petitioners argue the incident breaches the EAC Treaty and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, undermining the principles of Pan-Africanism and regional solidarity.
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They are demanding a public apology from the three governments, at least $1 million (Sh129 million) each in compensation, rehabilitation, and reforms to prevent future abuses. They also want the EAC Summit to urgently address growing human rights violations in the region.
David Sigano, CEO of the East Africa Law Society, said the case challenges the EAC to prove its commitment to justice and regional integration.
So far, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and the EAC Secretariat have not responded publicly. The case is set to test the region’s resolve in upholding fundamental rights and accountability.
