… I was barred entry into Tanzania for daring to go and witness the trial of Tundu Lissu, yet their constitution says criminal trial is a public thing which anybody can go to,” Karua noted. …
… She condemned the incident, calling for an overhaul of East African democracy, as it was not the first time the leader had been denied entry into an East African country.Last year during her visit to Tanzania, where she was supposed to represent opposition leader Tundu Lissu who …
… Tanzania barred and deported her in May last year after she travelled to Dar es Salaam as a legal observer in a treason case involving Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu. …
… fwele to gross violations of human rights. “One year ago, members of the Tanzanian Police Force detained, tortured, and sexually assaulted Ugandan Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan Boniface Mwangi, who were in Dar es Salaam to observe the judicial trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu …
… the statement said.The alleged abuses stem from events last year when Mwangi, Atuhaire and other activists, including People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, were detained and denied entry into Tanzania while attempting to observe the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu …
… Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has remained in prolonged detention for more than one year later, deepening concerns about political repression. …
… His successor, Tundu Lissu, charged with treason, has been detained since 9 April 2025, and Luhaga Mpina was prevented from submitting nomination forms to enter the presidential election as the candidate for Alliance for Change-Wazalendo. …
… Then, the two activists had travelled to Tanzania as part of an East African delegation to observe the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
… It further cited the case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was allegedly arrested and subjected to what the group described as a politically motivated trial. …
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba said he personally ordered the deportation of Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, and that she would no longer be allowed entry into the country. Karua had travelled to Uganda as part of a delegation attending a bail hearing for advocate Erias Lukwago.
Why it matters
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces claims responsibility for deporting Martha Karua, escalating diplomatic tension and raising questions about regional security cooperation.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba said he personally ordered the deportation of Kenya's Senior Counsel and Peoples Liberation Party leader Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, and that she would no longer be allowed entry into the country. Karua had travelled to Uganda as part of a delegation attending a bail hearing for advocate Erias Lukwago.
Uganda's Chief of Defence Force Muhoozi Kainerugaba posted on X that he ordered the deportation of Kenyan Senior Counsel Martha Karua from Uganda on Monday, saying she will no longer be allowed entry. Karua had travelled to Uganda to help defend detained opposition leader Kizza Besigye but was stopped by immigration officials citing security reasons.
People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua was deported from Uganda after immigration officials cited "security reasons," despite initial clearance at Entebbe International Airport. Karua, who had travelled to attend bail proceedings for jailed Ugandan lawyer Erias Lukwago and serves as lead counsel in a treason case against opposition leader Kizza Besigye, said she was declared persona non grata and placed on a return flight to Nairobi.
An opinion piece argues that Kenya should have been the first to respond when activist Boniface Mwangi alleged detention, torture, and sexual assault in Tanzania in 2025, rather than waiting for the US State Department to act. The author contends that a government valuing its citizens must protect their safety and dignity regardless of where they are.
The United States has imposed sanctions on Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele over alleged human rights violations involving the detention and torture of Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi and Ugandan activist Agather Atuhaire.
The United States has sanctioned Tanzanian Police Force Senior Assistant Commissioner Faustine Jackson Mafwele under Section 7031(c) for involvement in the detention, torture and sexual assault of Uganda's Agather Atuhaire and Kenya's Boniface Mwangi in May 2025, barring him from entering the United States.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is facing criticism from human rights activists, including Kenya Human Rights Commission, over remarks regarding management of youth-led protests in the region. Rights defenders say her statements promote repression across East Africa and undermine democratic freedoms.
After the death of former president John Pombe Magufuli, deputy president Samia Suluhu Hassan ascended to Tanzania's presidency. Initially celebrated as a change from Magufuli's heavy-handed rule, Suluhu has since emerged as a hardline leader in her own right.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has criticized President William Ruto and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu for discussing plans to jointly discipline Gen Z protesters, saying their "axis of tyranny" threatens to return East Africa to autocracy. Suluhu called for Ruto to work with her to address Gen Z unrest in both countries during Ruto's state visit to Tanzania.
The Orange Democratic Movement's Linda Mwananchi movement has opposed President William Ruto's planned visit and address to Tanzania's Parliament, arguing it risks undermining democratic values and risks legitimizing actions perceived to violate democratic norms. The group criticized Tanzania's general elections, citing arrests and intimidation of opposition leaders, and referenced African Union Election Observer findings that the elections fell short of democratic standards.