Respect Our Constitution & Rule Of Law- Uganda Law Society Castigates Gov’t, Security Agencies Over Novelist Kakwenza’s Continued Detention

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: The Uganda Law Society has castigated the government along with its security agencies over the continued detention of novelist, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija despite the court’s order to have him released unconditionally.

The Makindye Chief Magistrate Court last week, ordered security to have Kakwenza released or be brought to court alive or dead, however, the state never heeded to the same following his arrest on December 28 2021 from his home in Kisaasi.

In a statement released on Saturday issued by their President Pheonah Wall Nabasa, Uganda law society said they are saddened by the circumstances surrounding Kakwenza’s case.

“The Uganda Law Society finds these acts and omissions by the state and security agencies unacceptable, unlawful and in contravention of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. We condemn these acts which have undermined the independence of the judiciary, the legal profession and the rule of law in Uganda,” Wall Nabasa said.

Expressing her disappointment, Nabasa noted that the disrespect to the court doesn’t only undermine the powers of the judiciary to administer justice but also creates a risk of the public losing faith in seeking remedies from the courts which in turn may lead to anarchy.

According to Uganda Law Society, novelist Kakwenza’s continued detention is in contravention of the law and therefore demands that the police and any other security organs adhere to the Makindye Chief Magistrates order and release him without any charge.

“The Uganda Law Society also demands that an investigation is held into the illegal detention, unwarranted, cruel and inhuman treatment allegedly subjected to Mr. Kakwenza and if found to be true, then culprits be apprehended and subjected to the due process.”

The Uganda Human Rights Commission on Friday said they had failed to trace Kakwenza’s whereabouts in all the detention centers they have visited.

The Police Criminal Investigations Division last week said Kakwenza is being accused of offensive communication in relation to tweets in which he belittled and abused President Museveni and the Commander of the Land Forces, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.