KAMPALA: The United States government has called on the Uganda security agencies to respect the court order and release novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.
Kakwenza was re-arrested from Kitalya government prison and taken to an unknown destination moments after the Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court granted him bail.
In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Natalie E. Brown said in democratic societies, rule of law and judicial independence must be respected, especially by security agencies.
“The USA is deeply concerned about reports that Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has again been detained by Ugandan security services following court ordered release on bail,” she said.
“We call for the release of Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, consistent with the magistrate’s order. We also continue to monitor closely actions by individuals to undermine rule of law and democracy in Uganda,” she added.
One of his lawyers Samuel Wanda told this website that Kakwenza was picked up by armed men from the quarter guard at the prison before driving him off to an unknown destination.
“The prison authorities asked us for the release order and we provided it to them because for us we can’t be allowed to enter inside the prison, we were waiting from outside. When we provided it [release order] to them they went and after they came back to us asking if we’re the ones driving a numberless double cabin. We said, no, how can we drive a numberless vehicle? Then they told us your prisoner has been kidnapped and is inside that vehicle,” Wanda said.
Kakwenza was on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, granted bail by Buganda Road Court where he appeared via video link from prison.
The frail-looking Kakwenza, who listened to his bail ruling while seated, was asked to pay cash of Shs500,000 and asked to surrender his passport.
He was also barred from speaking to the press, with Magistrate Douglas Singiza warning him that he risks cancellation of the bail should he break this condition.
Magistrate Singiza also ordered the state prosecutors to complete their inquiries into the case by Friday and be ready to state their position at the next hearing on February 1.
Diplomats from the United States and the European Union were present at Tuesday’s hearing.
Rukirabashaija was charged on January 11 with “disturbing” veteran President Yoweri Museveni and his powerful son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, in a series of unflattering Twitter posts.
He is accused of using his Twitter handle, @KakwenzaRukira to allegedly disturb the peace of President Yoweri Museveni together with his son Lt General Muhoozi Kainerugaba with no purpose for legitimate communication.