The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) has condemned what it describes as “careless treatment” of Ugandan human rights activist Agather Atuhaire by Dutch immigration officers at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, an incident that reportedly led to her collapsing after being denied boarding and rebooked on a flight 24 hours later.
The incident occurred on Thursday as Atuhaire travelled from Oslo to Nairobi after attending the 2026 Oslo Freedom Forum, where she had participated in discussions on civic freedoms and human rights.
HRF says the treatment she received triggered severe emotional distress linked to her prior alleged abduction and torture in Tanzania in May 2025.
According to HRF, Atuhaire had boarded a KLM flight from Oslo, but the flight delay left her rushing to make a connecting journey through Amsterdam.
Upon arrival at Schiphol, a Dutch passport control officer reportedly confiscated her passport without opening it and handed it to another officer, citing concerns over its authenticity.
Atuhaire was then escorted to wait outside an immigration office. She later told HRF that repeated attempts to explain her travel history, including previous transits through Amsterdam, were ignored.
She also urged officers to verify her identity through official systems or online records, but says no such checks were conducted.
After approximately 30 minutes, two officers returned her passport and directed her to a KLM desk, where she was rebooked on a flight scheduled 24 hours later.
HRF reports that no apology was issued and that Atuhaire was asked whether she would pay for accommodation or remain at the airport overnight.
The airline, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is also facing criticism for not providing accommodation or assistance, despite the missed connection being attributed to circumstances beyond her control.
Atuhaire later described suffering an emotional breakdown during the incident, saying the encounter reactivated trauma from her alleged detention and torture by Tanzanian security agents. She said she experienced physical distress before collapsing.
“I tried to express my anger but couldn’t. I couldn’t speak. I suddenly had this sharp pain in my chest and collapsed on the ground and started to shake and cry uncontrollably,” she said in remarks shared through HRF.
The HRF said it considers the handling of the situation unacceptable and has called for a full investigation into the conduct of both Dutch immigration authorities and KLM. The organisation argues that Atuhaire is entitled to formal apologies and compensation for what it terms “undue emotional distress.”
HRF further stated that the incident raises broader concerns about the treatment of human rights defenders during international travel, particularly those with documented histories of persecution or trauma.
As of Friday, neither Dutch immigration authorities nor KLM had issued a public response addressing the allegations raised by HRF or the activist.
The case has drawn renewed attention to passenger handling protocols at major transit hubs and the duty of care owed to travellers in distress, especially those engaged in international human rights advocacy.