Ugandan journalist and human rights lawyer Agather Atuhaire has recounted a harrowing experience of abduction and mistreatment during her recent detention, allegedly at the hands of Tanzanian authorities.
Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi were both detained under unclear circumstances before being released separately in remote locations.
In her statement on Saturday, May 24, she said that she was pushed into a very dark car where she almost sat on the guns.
She said she was violently blindfolded before being driven off to an undisclosed location. According to her, the fear and aggression from the captors made her believe her life was in danger
“When 5 mean-looking men and one woman pushed us into a very dark car where I almost sat on guns and very violently blindfolded us and drove off, I thought it was over! Anyway, I will say more later,” she explained.
Agather was released on May 23 and abandoned at the Mutukula border between Uganda and Tanzania, where she was later found.
Mwangi, on the other hand, was deported by road by Tanzanian authorities on Thursday and found dumped in Ukunda, Kilifi County.
In a media address, Mwangi said he had been tortured alongside Agather even as he called for her release.
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 said.
After Agather's release, the United States government, on May 24, demanded investigations into the ordeals of the two activists at the hands of Tanzanian authorities.
“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,” it stated.
“We call for an immediate and full investigation into the allegations of human rights abuses,” the Bureau asserted.
