Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has been further remanded to Kitalya Prison after state prosecution punched holes in bail application, and awaiting Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate Dr Douglas Singiza’s ruling on the application.
On January 11, court charged Rukirabashaija with disturbing President Museveni and son’s peace. (Read story here).
He has been in detention since December 28 when he was arrested from Kisaasi, Kampala after he reportedly attacked President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and his son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on Twitter (Read story here).
Today, he appeared before Dr Singiza for mention of his charges, which he denied.
His lawyer Eron Kiiza applied for the writer’s bail.
Counsel Kiiza relied on a Uganda Prisons Service (UPS) medical report which shows shocking revelations about the torture of the Muhoozi critic. (Read the story here).
He also presented sureties who included NUP secretary general David Lewis Rubongoya and lawyer Julius Galisonga.
But prosecution led by Joan Keko told court that once released, Rukirabashaija might interfere with the investigations into the matter.
Keko also revealed that the state was still trying to retrieve information from the writer’s Twitter account.
The Twitter account which had disappeared has since reappeared.
Chief magistrate Singiza will give his ruling on the bail application on January 25.
The writer has been further remanded until then.
