Kenyan human rights defender Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan journalist and activist Agatha Atuhaire have been deported from Tanzania following days of detention in Dar es Salaam.
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Detained Over Entry Claims
The duo had been held at the Central Police Station since May 19, 2025, on accusations of providing false information upon entry. Their arrest triggered protests from civil society organizations and legal professionals across East Africa.
Advocate Emmanuel Ukashu, who was tasked with monitoring the case, confirmed that both Mwangi and Atuhaire were escorted out of the country by Tanzanian immigration officials and repatriated to their respective nations.
Legal Society Condemns Deportation
Boniface Mwabukusi, President of the Tanganyika Law Society, strongly criticized the detention and deportation, urging East African nations to uphold the rights of journalists and human rights defenders.
“As champions of constitutionalism and human rights in the region, we must demand accountability and adherence to international conventions protecting freedom of expression and movement,” he said.
Mwabukusi further emphasized the importance of respecting the East African Community Treaty and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Hackers Breach Tanzania Police X Account
Amid growing regional scrutiny, the official X account of the Tanzania Police Force was hacked on the morning of May 20. The hackers briefly shared misinformation, including false reports about the death of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Read also:Martha Karua Detained at Julius Nyerere Airport During Tanzania Visit
The breach occurred shortly after the deportation of several prominent Kenyan legal figures—among them former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga—who had travelled to Tanzania in support of opposition figure Tundu Lissu but were also denied entry.
President Suluhu Responds to Criticism
Responding to backlash over the deportations and X account hacking, President Samia Suluhu defended her government’s position, asserting that foreign activists would not be allowed to interfere in Tanzania’s internal affairs.
“We must maintain peace and order in our nation,” she stated, calling for non-interference from foreign entities and emphasizing the sovereignty of Tanzania.
Photo: Boniface Mwangi and Agatha Atuhaire were deported after being held in Dar es Salaam. Source: Facebook
