By Our Reporter
Ugandan human rights advocate Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi remain in police custody in Dar es Salaam following their arrest during a growing crackdown on regional observers attending the high-profile sedition trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
The two are being held at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, amid mounting alarm from civil society groups across East Africa. Their detention comes just as the court on Monday remanded Lissu further, deepening fears over the fairness and transparency of the judicial process in a case that has already drawn widespread criticism.
Crackdown On Court Observers
Reports from civil society groups and eyewitnesses indicate that Atuhaire and Mwangi were taken into custody for their presence at the court to observe Lissu’s trial—an act many view as protected under East African Community (EAC) protocols.
Mwangi now faces possible charges under Tanzania’s immigration laws and has been warned he could face up to three years in prison. The confrontation reportedly escalated after he refused to open his hotel room door at 2 a.m. when armed officers arrived. Sources say he was fearful for his safety, while Tanzanian authorities allege he failed to comply with lawful orders.
Atuhaire, a Ugandan lawyer and journalist, had been posting updates from inside the courtroom before her arrest. In one tweet, she joked: “Let me sit near someone who can translate for me the decision,” while awaiting a ruling on whether security officers would be allowed in court and if the proceedings would continue via video link.
Regional Backlash & Legal Outcry
Their arrests follow another diplomatic flashpoint: the recent blocking of Kenyan opposition leader Martha Karua and two lawyers from entering Tanzania to attend events linked to the East Africa Law Society.
Human rights groups from Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania have condemned the detentions. Many argue they violate EAC treaties guaranteeing freedom of movement and the public’s right to observe court proceedings. The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), in collaboration with the Tanganyika Law Society and the East Africa Law Society, is providing legal assistance to both detainees.
In a public statement, THRDC urged Tanzanian authorities to respect both domestic law and international human rights standards. “This case must reflect the principles of the EAC Treaty,” the group stated, “including free movement and the rule of law.”
Lissu Further Remanded Amid Rising Tensions
Meanwhile, Tundu Lissu, a former Member of Parliament and deputy leader of the opposition party CHADEMA, was on Monday further remanded as his sedition and incitement trial proceeds behind a veil of tight security and legal opacity. Lissu is accused of inciting public dissent through criticism of the government’s record on civil rights and electoral integrity.
The decision to extend Lissu’s detention, coupled with the exclusion of foreign observers and a visible police crackdown, has heightened fears that Tanzania’s judiciary is under growing political pressure. Critics argue that these developments represent a steady erosion of civil liberties under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
While Tanzanian officials maintain that the legal process is being followed, the optics—of foreign activists arrested, regional leaders barred, and opposition figures jailed—suggest a troubling pattern. Legal experts and rights defenders warn that such actions risk undermining not only Tanzania’s democratic credentials but also the unity and legal commitments of the broader East African region.
