Nairobi, Kenya
May 21, 2025
We, Human Rights Defenders, are deeply concerned on the whereabouts of human rights defender Boniface Mwangi of Kenya and Lawyer/Journalist Agatha Atuhaire of Uganda. The two were arrested, without warrant, from the Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Monday, 19th May 2025, by persons who identified themselves as police officers. The two were stated to have been detained at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam.
The two human rights defenders were in the United Republic of Tanzania to observe the trial of opposition leader Mr. Tundu Lissu, who is on trial for treason charges. This comes after the unlawful detention and later deportation of other human rights defenders including SC Martha Karua, CJ Emeritus Willie Mutunga, Hussein Khalid, Hanifa Adan and lawyers Gloria Kimani and Lynn Ngugi, upon their arrival at the Julius Nyerere International Airport on diverse dates. They were all denied entry into the country by Tanzanian authorities. They were equally on a mission to observe the trial of Mr. Tundu Lissu.
We are deeply concerned on the safety of Boniface and Agatha whose whereabouts remains unknown since their arrest. The Tanzanian authorities had informed the Tanganyika Law Society, the East Africa Law Society and the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, that they would be deported by Monday back to their home countries. This is not the case.
We condemn the prolonged detention of the two human rights defenders and call on the Tanzania Authorities to uphold their rights in accordance with national, regional and international human rights laws including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the East African Community Treaty, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As Human rights defenders we continue to demand respect for human dignity and the respect for fundamental rights and freedoms for all people. We call for the immediate release and safe return of the two human rights defenders to their home countries.
Signed
– Kamau Ngugi , Executive Director Defenders Coalition
– Jury Panel of the Human Rights Defenders Awards
1. Rachael Mwikali
2. Andrew Maina
3. Dr. Willy Mutunga
4. Njeri Kabeberi
5. Ikal Anglei
6. Kamanda Mucheke
7. Grace Lolim
8. Geoffrey Mwampembwa
