The Government of Tanzania has formally rejected claims made by Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire alleging sexual abuse during their detention in the country.These accusations surfaced after activists shared detailed accounts of their purported mistreatment, including rape and physical violence by Tanzanian security personnel.
In response, Tanzania’s Government Spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, categorically dismissed the allegations as unfounded and aimed at discrediting the government and its security institutions.
He stressed that Tanzania’s reputation as a respected nation remains intact despite such claims.
“This country holds its dignity and commands respect internationally. These activists are not the first to visit Tanzania; many have come before them.
If they choose to propagate falsehoods, that is their prerogative, but Tanzania is not defined by such narratives.
They violated the law and were subjected to due legal process,” Msigwa stated during an interview with DW Kiswahili.Meanwhile, a coalition of Kenyan human rights organizations, alongside the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have called upon the East African Community and the broader international community to urge Tanzanian authorities to investigate and hold accountable the official implicated in alleged abuses.
Following his release, Mwangi described being abruptly awakened in the early hours, transported for nearly an hour, and released near the border, accompanied by a warning not to look back.
He was provided with a small sum of money for transportation, which he suspected had been coordinated with a local motorcycle taxi rider.
Despite the ordeal, Mwangi remains resolute, vowing to continue his activism and asserting that neither he nor his colleagues will be silenced.
By Newshub