Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Lawyers Demand Unconditional Release of Writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija :: Uganda Radionetwork
Lawyers
representing Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija are demanding his
unconditional release.
Speaking to
Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday, the lawyers from Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates
led by Eron Kiiza said Kakwenza was arrested on Tuesday at around 4 pm from his
home in Kisaasi a Kampala city suburb by armed men.
According to Kiiza, the unknown gunmen arrested Kakwenza by breaking into
his house and driving him away in a vehicle.
He adds that Kakwenza is currently detained at the Uganda Police Force’s
Crime Intelligence Unit in Naguru Kampala.
Kiiza notes
that there is no justification as to why he should be detained without having
committed a crime.
//Cue in: “We looked for…
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Luganda Audio
//Cue in: “Kakwenza bamukutte gyo…
Cue out: …nga simukomela”.//
The Police
Force Spokesperson Fred Enanga said that he is yet to find the reason for
Kakwenza’s arrest.
In 2020,
Kakwenza was arrested twice in a space of six months. He was first arrested on
April 13 from his home in Iganga District allegedly by the Chieftaincy of
Military Intelligence and detained in Mbuya. He was later charged with
doing an act likely to spread an infectious disease following a post on his
Facebook page related to COVID-19.
He was later granted bail but again arrested in September of the same year
and his lawyers said it was in relation to his book titled “The Banana
Republic”, in which he had written about his experience under CMI custody
earlier.
He had also previously written a book titled “The Greedy Barbarian” in which he
talked about a greedy and incompetent dictator Kayibanda who clings to power
for 43-years.
In October 2021, Kakwenza was awarded as the
Winner of International Writer of Courage at the PEN Pinter Prize function and
this annual award is normally presented to a person who has been persecuted for
speaking out about their beliefs.
Kakwenza has since sued the government seeking compensation for infringement
of his rights after he was illegally detained in 2020 where he was reportedly
tortured and kept incommunicado. But his case is yet to be determined by the
Civil Division of the High Court.
