(Kampala) Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, accused of insulting the family of President Yoweri Museveni, was released on Wednesday after being held in detention despite a court order, his lawyer said.
Posted at 10:48 a.m.
The author was “thrown” by soldiers at his home in eastern Uganda after being detained in security forces barracks, lawyer Eron Kiiza told AFP.
“He is released but weak and we have taken him to hospital in Kampala,” he added.
Arrested on December 28, the writer was charged on January 11 with “offensive communication” towards the president in power since 1986 Yoweri Museveni and his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a series of publications on Twitter.
He described this general, whom many see as the successor of his 77-year-old father, as “obese” and “grouchy”.
DW AFRICA FACEBOOK PAGE PHOTO
Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija described the president’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba (above) as “obese” and “grouchy” in a series of Tweets.
On Tuesday, the 33-year-old author was, according to Mr. Kiiza, “kidnapped” from the maximum security prison where he was imprisoned and taken to an unknown destination, although a court had ordered his release the same day on a bail of 500,000 Ugandan shillings (180 Canadian dollars).
At the hearing, held on Tuesday morning, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija — who his lawyers say was tortured in detention — appeared fragile. He had appeared by videoconference.
PHOTO TINA SMOLE, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
At the hearing, held on Tuesday morning, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija — who his lawyers say was tortured in detention — appeared fragile. He had appeared by videoconference.
A prison guard told the judge that Rukirabashaija was “complaining of pain” and asked to remain seated.
In his ruling, the judge warned the writer that his bail would “automatically collapse” if he spoke to the press before the case was over and he would be sent back to jail.
He also asked prosecutors to complete their investigations by Friday and to be ready to present their arguments at the next hearing, scheduled for 1er February.
“Disrespect” of the law and impunity
A displayed slayer of Ugandan power, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija published in 2020 the satirical novel The Greedy Barbarian (“Le barbare cupide”, not translated into French), describing an imaginary country plagued by corruption. The critically acclaimed novel won Rukirabashaija the PEN Pinter Prize in 2021, awarded annually to an author who is persecuted for expressing their beliefs.
On Wednesday, before the announcement of the release, the representation of the European Union in Uganda expressed its “serious concern” about the detention of the writer.
“Such an act a few hours after a magistrate ordered his release on bail is a clear disrespect for the rule of law and the right of a Ugandan citizen to a fair trial”, affirms this text co-signed by ten European embassies, including those of France and Germany.
The day before, the ambassador of the United States in Uganda had called again for his release as well as for the respect of the law “in particular by the security agencies”.
“We also continue to closely monitor the actions of individuals aimed at undermining the rule of law and democracy in Uganda,” the ambassador, Natalie Brown, also wrote on Twitter.
Recent years have been marked in Uganda by acts of repression against journalists, the imprisonment of lawyers and the muzzling of opposition leaders.
In December, the United States decided on sanctions against the head of military intelligence, Abel Kandiho, because of human rights violations. On Tuesday, the latter was replaced by President Museveni and appointed to South Sudan.