Illegal detention of human rights defender Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija
On 25 January 2022, human rights defender Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija was illegally detained by Ugandan security services officers following a court ruling that ordered his unconditional release on bail. On 26 January, nearly three days after his illegal detention, around 3.00am, the human rights defender was returned to his home by military officers.
Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija is a human rights defender and journalist. He is the 2021 PEN International “Writer of Courage” and the author of two critically acclaimed books, “The Greedy Barbarians,” and “Banana Republic—Where Writing is Treasonous”. Rukira Bashaija is also a writer for New York City based Black Star News, wahich publishes his weekly “My Free Thoughts” column. Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija has been targeted for exercising his freedom of speech and thought.
On 25 January 2022, human rights defender Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija was illegally detained by Ugandan security services officers following a court ruling that ordered his unconditional release on bail. On 26 January, nearly three days after his illegal detention, around 3.00am, the human rights defender was returned to his home by military officers.
Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija is a human rights defender and journalist. He is the 2021 PEN International “Writer of Courage” and the author of two critically acclaimed books, “The Greedy Barbarians,” and “Banana Republic—Where Writing is Treasonous”. Rukira Bashaija is also a writer for New York City based Black Star News, wahich publishes his weekly “My Free Thoughts” column. Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija has been targeted for exercising his freedom of speech and thought.
On 28 December 2021, Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija was dragged away from his home by armed men in civilian clothes, suspected to be state security agents, who broke into his home. He was subsequently held incommunicado for more than 48 hours, before his family and lawyer were allowed to gain access to him. His lawyer and the Uganda Human Rights Commission have stated that Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija was subjected to torture and other inhumane treatment during his detention.
On 4 January 2022, the Chief Magistrates Court at Makindye, in Kampala, ordered that Kakwenza Rukira Bashaija be unconditionally released from police custody. As the police failed to comply with the order, the human rights defender remained in detention until his reappearance in court on 25 January 2022, when he was freed on conditional bail. The human rights defender was immediately detained again by Ugandan security service officers upon exiting the court and taken to an unknown location. He was later dropped off at his rural home at about 3.00am on 26 January 2022.
Front Line Defenders is deeply concerned about the systematic targeting and arrest of dissenting voices, including human rights defenders, in Uganda. Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, political party representatives, writers, and journalists play critical roles in a democratic society and should be permitted to carry out their responsibilities free of all restrictions – including judicial harassment.
