Dar es Salaam – Father Peter Rwezahura, a Claretian Missionary, was last seen at the Makoko Centre in the Catholic Diocese of Musoma, where he served at St. Bakhita Primary School.
His disappearance has raised fears that his case may be part of a wider pattern of enforced disappearances that has plagued the country in recent years.
Mara Regional Police Commander Pius Lutumo confirmed to The Citizen newspaper that a missing person report had been filed.
He stated that Father Rwezahura was due to be transferred to the Claretian Missionaries’ headquarters in Nairobi following reports of mismanagement of resources, equipment, and funds at the school.
According to Commander Lutumo, preliminary investigations indicate the priest travelled to his home in Bukoba to prepare for the move but never returned. He was later seen in Dar es Salaam before all communication ceased.
While the circumstances of Father Rwezahura’s disappearance remain unknown, his case has drawn attention to a disturbing trend of missing persons in Tanzania.
Human rights organisations have documented numerous cases of activists, journalists, and political opponents who have vanished under mysterious circumstances.
In a press release from June 2025, United Nations experts reported that over 200 enforced disappearances have been recorded in the country since 2019, calling it a “pattern of repression.”
Amnesty International has also voiced alarm, particularly following the disappearance of former ambassador and government critic Humphrey Polepole in October 2025.
The organisation maintains a list of individuals who remain missing, underscoring the climate of fear and impunity.
Survivors have shared harrowing accounts of abduction and torture. Activist Edgar Mwakabela, also known as Sativa, told the BBC that he was kidnapped, beaten, and shot in the head by his captors, whom he believes were linked to state security forces.
He survived what he described as an attempt to leave him for dead in a national park. However, not all cases are clear-cut. In October 2025, another Catholic priest, Father Camilus Aroni Nikata, was reported missing but was found alive by police. Authorities stated that he had disappeared voluntarily due to “emotional distress” from financial and relationship problems, and that no foul play was involved, a narrative some interpreted as an attempt to cover up.
The Tanzanian government has publicly addressed the issue. In June 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered the police to intensify efforts to end the trend of disappearances.
READ MORE: It’s About Time Authorities Come Out Clean on Enforced Disappearances in Tanzania
The police force has also issued statements, attributing some disappearances to staged abductions, witchcraft, or individuals leaving to join extremist groups.
Despite these official statements, human rights groups and the families of the missing express deep scepticism and frustration. They report a lack of transparency and accountability from the authorities, with investigations often yielding no results.
The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has criticised the government’s prolonged silence on many cases, while the Tanganyika Law Society notes that many people are too afraid to come forward for fear of victimisation.
In a public appeal dated February 5, 2026, the Claretian Missionaries confirmed that efforts to locate Father Rwezahura, including seeking police assistance, have so far been unsuccessful.
They have requested assistance in circulating information about his disappearance, particularly in Tanzania.
One Response
Unless otherwise;The people of that Nation Fasts and prays earnestly before God.. Nothing is going to happen at all…Prayers and Fasting will change the cause…