Human Rights Defenders Decry Crackdown in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

By George Otieno

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

Human rights defenders have expressed concerns over human rights violations across the East Africa region – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

Speaking in Mombasa on Tuesday December 23, 2025, they described this year as the worst, bloodiest and the darkest in the history of East Africa claiming that 10,000 people were massacred by Tanzanian government following the disputed elections held in October.

Vocal Africa executive director Hussein Khalid called on East Africans to continue pushing for change and respect of human rights.

“June of this year was the bloodiest in our country for the one week protest where 40 Kenyans were killed. In Tanzania 10,000 were executed by police officers. In Uganda, again, we have seen a continuous massacre of its citizen by the same regime. I tell East Africans that we must continue pushing for change,” he said.

On his part, the Muslim for Human Rights rapid response officer Francis Auma wants President William Ruto to end extrajudicial killings in the country and enforced disappearances alleging they are carried out by the government.

Auma asked the President to end the gun culture which was being used by politicians hell-bent on intimidating and harassing dissenting voices.

“We emphasize Kenya, not Uganda, not Tanzania, has been the same rhythm, same music of intimidation, harassment, killings, dissapearances and we even see illegal renditions. You can be arrested here, taken to Tanzania, taken to Uganda and the government doesn’t care,” he said.

The officer called on the three EA countries to respect their respective constitutions and human rights.

“We won’t allow that cooperation of harassment and intimidation by the three states. The constitution will protect us. East Africa has been destroyed, but at the end of the day, restoration must be done,” he added.

Bradley Ouna, a human rights defender from Mombasa, accused state agencies of the three nations for brutalizing their own citizens.

Ouna demanded the release of all political prisoners in Uganda and Tanzania.

“Museveni must immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners that is Kiza Besigye and other comrades, including all the Ugandans that have been illegally arrested and detained. Samia must immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, including Tundu Lissu,” he said.

The rights defenders calls on President Samia to release the body of a Kenyan killed during polls protest to their families.

“(President) Samia must release all bodies of those killed to their families, including the bodies of Kenyan teacher, John Okoth Ogutu, and ensure the deaths get dignified burial,” he added.

Tanzania Police tackling protesters in Dar Es Salaam photo(courtesy)

Walid Sketty from Vocal Africa demanded that Uganda allows members of the civil societies to access Uganda for election monitoring during the January 2026 general elections.

“Uganda must immediately accredit Kenya and Tanzania civil society organizations and human rights defenders to observe campaigns and elections.”