Missing Journalist Agather Atuhaire Found after Being Abducted in Tanzania

Human Rights Lawyer and journalist Agather Atuhaire, who was abducted in Tanzania, has been found dumped near Uganda’s Mutukula border, according to her family.

Atuhaire was missing after being abducted alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi while in Tanzania.

Godwin Toko, deputy team leader at Agora, posted on X Friday morning:

 “Finally, Agather has been found, and I have talked to her via her sister’s phone right now. She was picked from the border.”

Human rights activist Nicholas Opiyo also confirmed he has talked to her.

“Agather is on her way home. She was dumped at the Mutukula Boda last night - we spoke a little while ago,” he said.

She has been missing since Monday, when she and activist Boniface Mwangi were detained in Tanzania.

She had travelled to the East African nation to attend the court hearing of opposition figure Tundu Lissu.

The move caused concerns among many regions amid planned protests.

Mwangi said he and the Ugandan were tortured while in captivity. They were both deported by road.

Boniface Mwangi’s Narration

Human Rights activist Boniface Mwangi narrated the horrifying ordeal he was subjected to together with his fellow Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.

In a recollection shared in his socials, Mwangi revealed that they were tortured badly and even asked to strip naked and take a shower to wash off blood.

“Agather is still missing in Tanzania. The last time l was in the same space with her was Tuesday morning. We had been tortured, and we were told to strip naked and to go bathe. We couldn't walk and were told to crawl and go wash off the blood.

“We were handcuffed and blindfolded, so l didn't even see her, but l heard her groaning in pain as they barked orders at us. Any attempt to speak to each other during the night we were tortured was met with kicks and insults. We were removed from the torture location in different vehicles.

“Our tortures were acting on orders from a "state security" employee who came to Immigration offices and followed us to Central Police Station and ordered that we be taken to a secret location to be given a "Tanzanian treatment."

That man assaulted me in the presence of three lawyers from the Tanganyika Law Society and identifying him might help us find where Agather is being kept.

“He scared the three lawyers, and they left us at Central Police Station, where we were removed while handcuffed and blindfolded.

“He is a man of average height, had short hair with waves and light brown skin, and was overweight, he has a sugging potbelly. On that day he was wearing a black suit, black shoes, a white shirt and no tie.

‘One of the lawyers said he is state security and reports directly to Samia Suluhu. If anyone is holding Agather, it's that man and Suluhu. Let's bring Agather home to her family. #FreeAgatherAtuhaire#FreeAgather,”.