Novelist Kakwenza Further Remanded, Court To Decide On His Bail Application Next Week

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Novelist Kakwenza Rukirabasaijja

By Uganda Online Media

President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Maj Tom Magambo who has been in the Internal Security Organisations(ISO) as the new police Criminal Investigations Director.

“President Museveni has promoted Private Tom Magambo to the rank of Major and appointed him Director Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force,” the acting UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu said in a statement.

Kampala: Buganda Road Court has postponed the ruling on novelist Kawenza Rukirabashaija’s bail application to Tuesday next week.

Kakwenza who is currently on remand in Kitalya Prison appeared in court this morning via video conferencing platform, Zoom for his bail application.

In the bail application, Kakwenza’s lawyer, Eron Kiiza contends that his client had been tortured while in incarceration, and therefore needs to access medical treatment adding that the case which Kakwenza is being charged with is also bailable and therefore the court should grant him temporary freedom.

However, Resident State Attorney Joan Keko in response prayed that Kakwenza remains in detention because releasing him on bail could interfere with investigations into his case.

The prosecution alleged that if released, Kakwenza will have access to his social media platforms, including Twitter and Facebook, where he will likely disrupt the ongoing investigations.

Buganda Road Magistrate Dr. Douglas Singiza pushed the decision on the bail application to Tuesday, January 25, 2022.

Kakwenza is battling charges related to offensive communication, which is contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011.

The award-winning writer was arrested and detained in late December last year after allegedly insulting the first son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba and President Yoweri Museveni through his Twitter handle.

Previously, lawyer Kiiza Eron wrote to the Uganda Prisons Commissioner General requesting the medical report of his client Kakwenza.

Following the request, the assistant commissioner of health for prisons in a letter dated 20th January 2022 responded to Kiiza informing him that his client had healing scars on the back, the buttocks, thighs, and hands for which he is on medication.

“This medical re-examination was requested for on January 13th, 2022 and carried out on January 14th, 2022 at Kitalya Mini Max Prison,” part of the letter reads.

According to the letter Kakwenza 33 years old male prisoner remanded at Kitalya Mini Max prison on January 11th, 2022 sustained those healing scars of wounds before being remanded to prison.

“On examination found him in fair general condition with the weight of 87.3kg Height 1.95m and a BMI of 22.9 kgm². The BP was 106/64 mmHg with a pulse rate of 78 beats/min which was full volume and regular,” the letter added.

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