By Our Reporter
In a deeply disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the region, Ugandan journalist and human rights activist Agather Atuhaire has returned to Kampala after enduring gross human rights violations, including being stripped naked, photographed without her consent, and subjected to torture and verbal abuse while illegally detained by Tanzanian authorities.
According to a statement released by Agora Discourse, Atuhaire was blindfolded, denied food, and held incommunicado for four days—without charge—following her arrest in Tanzania under still unclear circumstances. Her captors stole all her personal belongings, including her phone and money, and subjected her to severe humiliation, including taking nude photographs against her will.
The ordeal reached its lowest point when, in the dead of night at around 2 a.m., Atuhaire was abandoned near the Uganda–Tanzania border at Mutukula, roughly two kilometers inside Tanzanian territory. Alone, without transport or communication, she was rescued by a good Samaritan who helped her reach the Ugandan side of the border, where she was finally able to contact her colleagues.
She is now back in Kampala with her family and is undergoing medical and psychological treatment. Her team says she will take time to rest and recover from the ordeal.
Widespread Outrage & Demands For Accountability
The revelations have ignited fury among press freedom advocates, civil society leaders, and human rights organizations, who are calling for a full investigation into the circumstances of Atuhaire’s arrest and detention.
“What happened to Agather is beyond outrageous—it is criminal,” said a spokesperson from the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda. “This is not only a violation of her dignity and rights but also a direct attack on press freedom and regional cooperation.”
Atuhaire, a prominent investigative journalist and civic voice, has long been recognized for her courage in holding public institutions accountable. Many see her arrest and treatment as a calculated attempt to silence and humiliate her—but insist that it has only strengthened public support for her cause.
“This was an attempt to break her, to shame her into silence,” said a fellow journalist. “But what they’ve done is awaken a movement.”
Agora Discourse and partner organizations are demanding:
- A formal investigation by the Tanzanian government into the abuse of Atuhaire’s rights.
- An official diplomatic protest by the Government of Uganda.
- Intervention by the East African Community (EAC) and international human rights watchdogs.
Agather Atuhaire’s experience is a chilling reminder of the shrinking space for dissent and the dangers faced by journalists across East Africa. As she begins her recovery, her story is fast becoming a symbol of both the risks of truth-telling—and the power of public solidarity.
