Kakwensa Rukirabashaija, The Greedy Barbarian Book Author Sues Government For Torturing Him

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news February 1, 2021

The author of the political fiction book, The Greedy Barbarian, Kakwensa Rukirabashaija has sued the government of Uganda for the torture meted out at him by security authorities after his arrest last year. Operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence arrested Kakwensa Rukirabashaija in April 2020 apparently for unclear reasons. He was then reported missing for a number of days, prompting the court to order the state to produce him dead or alive.

Consequently, he was arraigned before the Iganga Magistrates court. The court charged him with doing an act likely to spread the infection of a disease contrary to section 171 of the Penal Code Act.

In a suit before the civil division of the High Court in Kampala filed earlier today, Kakwenza says he is the author of “The Greedy Barbarian”. He added that on April 30, 2020, military men, some in full combat and others in civilian clothes with CMI identity cards arrested him from his home at Bysei A village, Buseyi parish, Nakalama sub-county in Iganga district.

Kakwensa narrates his ordeal;

“The military men blindfolded and drove me to an initially unknown destination. I later learned from other detainees at Mbuya CMI headquarters. On Wednesday, April 15, 2020, my captors briefly rushed me to my Iganga home. They searched my house and confiscated more of my properties. These include a laptop charger and a copy of my book.” His affidavit reads.

According to court documents, at Mbuya, he suffered solitary detention. They kept him in a toilet in the dark dungeons for five days until April 18. He was then “dragged” together with three other inmates to Special Investigations Division in Kireka.

“On Tuesday, April 14, the CMI operatives hanged me while handcuffed and leg cuffed. This was on the metals at a staircase connecting the ground floor to the first floor. In the dark dungeons of Mbuya, CMI personnel subjected me to untold torture. Cruelty, humiliation, inhuman and degrading treatment incommunicado and often solitary toilet detention.”

Kakwenza says they didn’t just hang him, they beat him using sticks, batons, and guns. All on in the back during interrogation.

He adds in the affidavit that he currently feels dizzy despite taking plenty of water. He says it’s the torture that caused all these.

Declarations

The critical book writer now wants the court to declare that arresting, beating, wounding, torturing, blindfolding and detention incommunicado constituted a breach of guaranteed human dignity and freedom from torture as enshrined in the 1995 constitution.

“The applicant seeks a declaration that the respondent’s officers’ incommunicado detention of the applicant was illegal and violated his personal liberty and freedom of movement guaranteed under articles 23 and 29(2)(a) and (b) of the 1995 Constitution of Uganda.” Part of the court documents in the suit where he listed the Attorney General reads.

He also wants the court to order the government to pay general, punitive, and exemplary damages among other orders for the arrest and subsequent torture.

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