Ugandan human rights defender Agather Atuhaire, alongside Kenyan photojournalist and activist Boniface Mwangi, are seeking compensation of at least $1 million (approximately Ksh129.15 million) each in a case filed at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Arusha, Tanzania.
Atuhaire and Mwangi filed the case, accompanied by seven leading civil society organizations and regional bar associations, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the East Africa Law Society.
The respondents in the case, on the other hand, are the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC) alongside the Tanzanian, Ugandan and Kenyan Attorney Generals.
The petition challenges “grave human rights violations” following the alleged enforced disappearance, torture, arbitrary detention and unlawful deportation of Agather and Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities.
Agather Atuhaire and Boniface Mwangi sue Tanzania
Filed on July 18, 2025, the applicants accuse the Tanzanian Government of “grave human rights violations”, which they say occurred while the two were in the East African nation to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
According to the petition, the two were seized between May 19 and 23, 2025, from their hotel in Dar es Salaam by unidentified individuals.
They were reportedly taken to Immigration Department offices and the Central Police Station before being moved to an undisclosed location, tortured, and subjected to acts of sexual violence.
They were later dumped across the Tanzanian borders into Kenya and Uganda, respectively.
The applicants argue that the detention was unlawful, noting that Mwangi and Atuhaire were never informed under which law they were being held or transferred from official custody.
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They also cite failures by the Kenyan and Ugandan governments to protect their nationals and accuse the EAC Secretary General of taking no action despite the disappearance being widely publicised.
“The applicants argue that these acts and omissions of the Respondents constitute a blatant violation of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other applicable regional and international legal instruments, and also violate the principles of East Africannness and Pan-Africanism,” reads part of the petition.
Ksh129 million compensation and other demands
In addition to the $1 million compensation to both Mwangi and Atuahire, the applicants are seeking public apologies from the governments of Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, and a formal condemnation of the unlawful acts by the EAC Secretary General.
Also Read: USA Issues Demands After Torture of Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuahaire in Tanzania
They are also seeking rehabilitation and psychosocial support for the victims, institutional and legal reforms to prevent recurrence, and an EAC Summit to review peace, security, and governance in the region.
“When a state goes rogue, the law must step in to protect their victims. What happened to us was evil and was meant to silence us, but we refused to be silenced. We are going to court not only to fight for justice but show the whole world what happened to us in the dark. We hope this case will give more victims of the state the courage to speak up and seek justice. We can’t allow evil to prosper,” Boniface Mwangi stated.
Advocate and CEO of the East Africa Law Society, David Sigano, on his part said that no citizen should be tortured, disappeared, or deported simply for observing a court trial, demanding the EACJ to “rise to the occasion.”
“This case is not just about two individuals. It is about defending the soul of East Africa-the principles of human dignity, regional integration, and the rule of law. These violations cannot be ignored,” added Donald Deya, Advocate and CEO of PALU.
“We are demanding accountability and justice at the highest regional level.”
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