The US government has warned that top security officers and their juniors could face sanctions over the arrest and detention of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.
On January 11, court charged Rukirabashaija with disturbing President Museveni and son’s peace. (Read story here).
He had 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).
On January 25, Buganda Road Court chief magistrate Dr Douglas Singiza granted bail to Rukirabashaija.
His lawyers led by 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).
Following his re-arrest minutes after court granted him bail, Rukirabashaija was finally dumped at his home in Iganga in the wee hours of January 26. (Read story here).
Hours before the rearrest, the US government, through its ambassador to Uganda, Natalie Brown, had expressed concern over the incident and the troubles the award-winning writer has been going through.
“In democratic societies, rule of law and judicial independence must be respected, especially by security agencies,” Ambassador Brown reminded the Ugandan government.
She then hinted on sanctions against officials in politics and security. For now, Brown confirmed that the actions of some of these officials are being monitored.
“We also continue to monitor closely actions by individuals to undermine rule of law and democracy in Uganda,” she revealed.
The latest high profile security officer to be sanctioned by the US is sacked CMI boss Maj Gen Abel Kandiho. (Read story here).
