Ugandan author goes into hiding after torture – Lawyer

Award-winning Ugandan author, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who accused the authorities of torturing him while he was in detention, has gone into exile.

Though, his lawyer has refused to reveal the current location of the author.

Rukirabashaija had been granted permission to leave the country to seek treatment for injuries he claims to have sustained during his recent month in detention at an unknown location. The permission was given after the court  had granted him bail.

However, the court has denied him access to his passport.

Arrested on December 28 and whisked away from his home by soldiers, the writer had “visibly been tortured,” according to his lawyer and his wife.

On 17 January, the Ugandan Human Rights Commission visited the author, also noting “the scars and healing wounds on his body”.

Rukirabashaija was charged with offensive communication for making indecent remarks about President Yoweri Museveni and his son on Twitter. He was accused of calling the President’s son – army General Muhoozi Kainerugaba – “obese”.

His trial is meant to begin on 23 March.

AFN/Olajumoke Adeleke