State resurrects charges against ‘Greedy Barbarian’ novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija

Iganga Chief Magistrates Court has summoned ‘Greedy Barbarian’ author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija to appear before the temple of justice on December 15 over charges of doing an act likely to spread an infectious disease contrary to the Penal Code Act.

The summons, issued on December 08, came hours after Iganga senior state prosecutor Beatrice Owor wrote to the Iganga trial magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana in Rukirabashaija’s case, informing him of prosecutions readiness to continue with the case.

The case, filed in April 2020, had been dismissed on August 25 after prosecution failed to adduce evidence to pin Rukirabashaija.

But prosecution has now asked for resumption of the case.

“We humbly pray that the case can be reinstated so as we can prosecute the same,” senior state prosecutor Owor wrote to grade one magistrate Ndiwalana on December 08.

Owor further assured the magistrate prosecution was “now ready to proceed.”

According to the lead prosecutor, “witnesses are now ready to come and testify after government partially lifting lockdown.”

Prosecution alleges that Rukirabashaija “unlawfully/negligently posted messages on his Facebook account mobilizing the public against complying with directives and public health guidelines issued to prevent the spread of Covid19, and knowing or having reason to believe that such actions would lead to further spread of Covid19, a disease dangerous to human life.”