Kakwenza Rukirabashaija a Ugandan author facing trial for criticizing the son of President Yoweri Museveni and had spent nearly a month in jail, has fled the country, his lawyer has said.
Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, an internationally acclaimed writer, was released from jail in late January after being arrested in late December for communications offences related to a series of tweets he posted about Museveni and his son, an army general.
Eron Kiiza, lawyer to award-winning Ugandan author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, said Wednesday his client had fled the country. This, two days after a court, where he faced trial for criticizing the son of President Yoweri Museveni, refused to release his passport.
“He was in Rwanda, like four to five hours ago. He’s trying to coordinate his way. That’s how he got out of Uganda. And finally, he will find his way to Europe,” says Kiiza as he explained Rukirabashaija’s whereabouts.
Rukirabashaija fled Uganda across the land border with Rwanda and will settle at least temporarily as He’s trying to coordinate his way. That’s how he got out of Uganda. And finally, he will find his way to Europe in an unnamed European country, Eron Kiiza told The Associated Press news agency.
Kakwenza had asked the court to release his passport so he could visit Germany to receive an award from the writers’ association PEN International, and to receive treatment after his alleged torture while in Ugandan military custody.
“Conditions had become impossible for him,” he said of Rukirabashaija. “They kept surveilling him. They took away his passport. He had no option but to flee the country and save his life.” his lawyer has said.
