SFC, IGP & CID ordered to present Novelist Kakwenza to High Court on Wednesday

The Commander of Special Forces Brigadier General Peter Chandia, the Director of Criminal Investigations Directorate Grace Akullo, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola, and the Attorney General have been ordered by High Court in Kampala, to produce Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.

Justice Musa Ssekaana issued the order on Monday, at least 2 weeks after Kakwenza’s arrest.

He ordered for Kakwenza to be produced in court on Wednesday and show cause why he has been detained for two weeks without being charged. 

Kakwenza’s wife Eva Basima through her lawyers led by Eron Kiiza told the court that their client has been in unknown detention and held incommunicado which is a violation of his rights.

Kiiza also told High Court that the Makindye Grade One Magistrates Court had ordered the Attorney General to unconditionally release Kakwenza but the government didn’t comply and therefore, it was in the interest of justice that an order for his production whether dead or alive be issued.

State Attorneys Christine Kaahwa and Richard Adrole who represented the State told the court that they previously had to verify the Makindye order since it was issued in their absence. 

But they added that they later found that the order was authentic and in respect to today’s proceedings before Ssekaana, they needed more time to respond to the matter on grounds that they have written to those who were sued and are yet to get their respective responses.

Kakwenza’s lawyer says that he is hopeful that since this is an order from the High Court the security agencies will comply with it.

Kakwenza’s wife Basima petitioned Court last week demanding the restoration of her husband’s right to liberty saying that he had been in unknown detention without being arraigned in court within 48 hours as mandated by law.

Kakwenza, the International Writer of Courage 2021 has been in custody since  December 28 2021 on offensive communication charges. He was arrested by armed security officers from his residence located in Kisaasi, a Kampala suburb.

He is accused of insulting the President and the first son on Twitter.