Torturer-in-Chief: Tanzanian Police Officer Faustin Mafwele Accused in East Africa’s Widening Torture Scandal
Multiple victims—including Agather Atuhaire, Edgar Mwakabela, and Boniface Mwangi—accuse Faustin Mafwele of torture, rape, and state-backed abuse.
By Ujasusi Blog’s East Africa Monitoring Team | May 27, 2025
Dar es Salaam / Kampala – Tanzanian police officer Faustin Mafwele has been publicly named by multiple victims of abduction, torture, and sexual violence as a central figure in what appears to be an expanding network of state-enabled brutality across East Africa.
From Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire to Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi, and Tanzanian dissident Edgar Mwakabela, a growing list of individuals have independently accused Mafwele of orchestrating or personally participating in acts of sexual assault, unlawful detention, and physical abuse—crimes allegedly committed under the cover of state authority.
The accusations, spanning multiple years and countries, paint a disturbing picture of impunity and cross-border repression rooted deep within Tanzania’s security system.