MWE Correspondent
Two prominent human rights activists from Kenya and Uganda have filed a landmark petition at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), accusing Tanzanian authorities of unlawful arrest, torture, and forced deportation.
The activists claim the violations occurred while they were in Tanzania to observe the treason trial of Tundu Lissu, a well-known opposition politician and former Member of Parliament in Tanzania.
Boniface Mwangi, a renowned photojournalist and civil rights defender from Kenya, and Agather Atuhaire, a Ugandan lawyer and media freedom advocate, allege that they were abducted from their hotel in Dar es Salaam in May 2025. According to their sworn statements, they were held in undisclosed locations, subjected to physical and psychological abuse, and later deported without any formal charges or legal process.
Their case, filed on July 18, 2025, is being backed by seven civil society organizations and two national bar associations from the East African Community (EAC). The lawsuit names the Attorneys General of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, along with the Secretary General of the EAC, citing violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the EAC Treaty.
The petitioners are demanding:
- $1 million in damages each, equivalent to TSh 2.6 billion,
- Public apologies from the governments of the three countries, and
- A formal condemnation by the EAC of the alleged abuses.
“This wasn’t just about us. It’s about protecting the rights of everyone in East Africa,” said Mwangi in a video shared on social media. “If civil society cannot safely observe trials or hold governments to account, democracy is in real danger.”
Agather Atuhaire emphasized the wider impact of the case. “Our treatment highlights the shrinking civic space and growing intolerance of dissent. We’re demanding justice not just for ourselves, but for the future of press freedom and civil liberty in the region.”
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The activists were in Tanzania to monitor proceedings against Tundu Lissu, who has survived multiple assassination attempts and remains one of the most vocal critics of Tanzanian government policies.
International human rights watchdogs including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) have called on the EACJ to conduct a transparent and expedited hearing. They have also urged the Tanzanian government to comply fully with regional human rights obligations.
Legal experts note that the outcome of this case could set an important precedent. “If the court rules in favor of the petitioners, it will reinforce the EACJ’s authority and send a clear signal to governments that arbitrary treatment of observers and activists will not go unchallenged,” said Dr. Emmanuel Ndunguru, a regional law scholar at Makerere University.
The East African Court of Justice, headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania, is tasked with ensuring adherence to the principles of good governance, democracy, and human rights among EAC member states.
