Court Orders Police to Release Ugandan Author

A court in Uganda has ordered the police to release a prominent author, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija.

He was arrested last week after ‘criticising’ President Yoweri Museveni and his son Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba on social media.

A lawyer for the writer said he had not yet been released but he expected the authorities to comply with the court ruling.

Mr. Rukirabashaija, who won this year’s “Pen Pinter Prize’s International Writer of Courage award,” had been due in court to face the charge of offensive communication.

It was not clear why he had not been presented in court.

BBC/Shakirat Sadiq