The European Union (EU) has called on President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and his son Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba to release novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija who called the president’s child ‘obese.’
Kakwenza was detained following a Twitter war with supporters of Lt Gen Kainerugaba, also the Commander of UPDF Land Forces (CLF).
A court in Kampala has since ordered for the unconditional release of The Greedy Barbarian author.
But security agencies have defied the court order, and the writer remains in detention.
Meanwhile, Kainerugaba’s spokesperson has accused Rukirabashaija’s lawyers of engaging in disgraceful behavior by relying on a ‘fake tweet’ to secure court orders.
Ugandan writers and the civil society have been calling for the release of the writer in the wake of claims that he has been tortured.
Now, the EU, through its human rights chief Eamon Gilmore, has called on the president and his son to release Rukirabashaija.
“I’m alarmed by reports of alleged torture and incommunicado detention of author Kakwenza. He remains in detention without trial, despite a court order for his unconditional release. I urge Ugandan authorities to uphold rule of law and due process,” said Eamon Gilmore.
