IGANGA The critical book author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija was on Monday, April 20, secretly arraigned before Iganga Magistrate’s Court and charged with doing acts likely to promote the spread of coronavirus, PML Daily has learnt.
This was at the same time the High Court in Kampala was ordering the top security including the director of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), to produce Mr Kakwenza before it on April 27.
PML Daily has learnt that around this time, CMI drove the 31-year-old to Iganga and charged him with doing an act likely to spread Covid-19.
Grade One Magistrate Yunus Ndiwalana remanded Kakwenza, to Busesa Prison in Iganga until after the coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Solomon Muyita, the Judiciary spokesperson, confirmed the court appearance.
“Charges are related to his various posts on his Facebook page in opposition to the presidential directives on Covid-19,” he told this website.
Mr Kakwenza, the author of a book “The Greedy Barbarian” went missing on Easter Monday.
According to a family friend, Mr Wartson Atukwasize, in his affidavit before court, claims Mr Kakwenza was arrested by operatives from CMI.
This, he says was after a group of them, five in number, stormed his home in Iganga at around 2.30pm, demanded for his cell phone and laptop before bundling him into a waiting white government car.
He told court that the continued detention of his friend beyond the constitutional 48 hours was illegal, hence seeking for his release and freedom.
“Upon reading the notion of Mr Kakwenza dated the 15th day of April 2020 and the affidavit in support and upon hearing from his counsel Mr Eron Kiiza, it’s hereby ordered that a writ of habeas corpus is directed at the Attorney General, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Forces, director of CMI to have the body of Kakwenza produced before the High Court at Kampala on the 27th April 2020,” Justice Esta Nambayo ordered.
His lawyer, Mr Kiiza believes his client got into trouble with the security over his latest book that they believe is critical of the government.
According to counsel Kiiza, the book in question, talks about a key character known as “Kayibanda”, dictator who clings to power and is greedy and incompetent.