Literature

Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who won a prestigious prize this year for courageous writing, has been arrested by Ugandan security services, according to his lawyer.

After the arrest they have whisked him off to an unknown place.

The reason behind this arrest is still unknown but he has recently been scathing about President Yoweri Museveni and his son Lt-Gen Muhoozi Kainergaba on Twitter.

He described the general as 'obese' and said the Musevenis have imposed enorrmous suffering of this country. The police department not yet confirmed Rukirabashaija's arrest.

His lawyer Eron Kiiza said he was being held by the police crime intelligence agency in a suburb of the capital, Kampala.

He also added that he has not been able to gain access to the author, and he not yet been charged.

Before he was taken away on Tuesday, Rukirabashaija wrote in his facebook post 'I'm under house arrest. Man with guns are breaking my door. They say they're policeman but are not in uniform. I've locked myself inside'.

Rukirabashaija won this year's Pen Pinter Prize's International Writer of Courage award.

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has condemned Rukirabashaija'sb arrest, arguing that he be freed.

Rukirabashaija is best known for his satirical novel 'The Greedy Barbarian' which describes high-level corruption in a fictional country and includes characters in the political and military establishment, and Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous.

In April 13 of 2020, he was arrested at his home by officers from Ugandan Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). He was held for seven days, during which time he was blindfolded, held in solitary confinement, and subjected to inhumane and degrading treatment including torture.

The interrogation centred on his novel The Greedy Barbarian, and his subsequent work, Banana Republic: Where Writing is Treasonous, is an account of the torture he was subjected to du ring this time.

In May 2021, the Magistrate Court discharged the reinstated case against Rukirabashaija, due to non-appearence of the compliant.

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Reference

News Agencies