KAMPALA, UGANDA: Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court has Wednesday issued a warrant arrest against satirical novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija for skipping bail.
Kakwenza, who is reportedly in Germany for treatment of his torture wounds was last month granted bail but has never appeared again as demanded.
The 33-year-old award-winning Ugandan author is facing charges of offensive communication contrary to section 25 of the Computer Misuse Act 2011 for allegedly abusing President Museveni and the Commander of Land Forces, Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba through social media.
During the case hearing on Wednesday, State prosecutor, Ms. Joan Keko told court to issue an arrest warrant against Kakwenza, who, neither his sureties were in court to explain his whereabouts.
The audience was thrown into laughter when in response, Kakwenza’s lawyer, Samuel Wanda told the court that the writer was “within” the country and in a private facility where he is getting medication after being tortured by security.
The trial magistrate asked the lawyer to be specific whether the writer is in Nakulabye or any of the city suburbs but Wanda would not give more details.
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Dr.Douglas Singiza consequently issued an arrest warrant against Kakwenza so that he is brought to court on the next date of April 11, 2022.
Ms. Keko also asked court to have Kakwenza’s four sureties including lawyers David Lewis Rubongoya , Julius Galisonga; Annah Ashaba and Job Kiija penalised for not being present in court as was the case with the accused person.
In response, Kakwenza’s lawyer said Galisonga had a case at the High Court that he was attending to whereas the National Unity Platform Secretary-General, Lewis Rubongoya was still engaged in party activities aimed at coming up with a candidate in the speakership race.
Dr. Singiza also issued criminal summons against the four sureties to appear next month and explain the whereabouts of Kakwenza or else pay shs10 million bail money to the government.
The case has been adjourned to April, 11, 2022.
Last month, Kakwenza said he would never return to court which he said was never fair to him after being tortured. “The magistrate can now put the passport in his dock and try it, I am not going to ever face him again,” he said.
The writer has since arrived in Germany where he was received by the German PEN Center.
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