GERMANY: ‘Tortured’ Ugandan author, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, has arrived in Germany and is being cared for by friends and the PEN.
The Ugandan writer’s arrival was welcomed by Deniz Yucel, a Turkish-German journalist and director of the German PEN Center. Speaking on behalf of PEN International, Yucel said he was “very happy” that Rukirabashaija was able to flee “from the clutches of his tormentors”.
As @PEN_Deutschland we’re very happy to welcome @KakwenzaRukira in Germany. Thanks a lot to @pen_int and everyone else who helped to freeing him from the clutches of his tormentors. Further informations will follow soon at PEN’s website: https://t.co/H2X5bFoVLX pic.twitter.com/izhKHXwaSg
— Deniz Yücel (@Besser_Deniz) February 23, 2022
According to Kakwenza, he was arrested in December 2021, confined for 2 weeks in a secret location, and then transferred to Kitalya Prison. He was released on bail some weeks later, saying that he had been badly tortured in detention.
He also made an appearance on a Television earlier this month, revealing painful-looking welts crisscrossing his back and scars on other parts of his body.
The European Union was among those calling for a “comprehensive investigation” into rights abuses in Uganda.
Rukirabashaija, who was released on bail last month, fled Uganda by walking into neighbouring Rwanda across the hilly border and then travelling to a third country.
According to Kiiza, who declined to provide further details, the UN Refugee Agency facilitated his journey to Germany following that.