19/09/2020
September 20 2020.
The fraternity of the Ugandan students at Cavendish University Uganda,
RE: STATEMENT ON THE ARREST OF KAKWENZA RUKIRABASHAIJA
Warm greetings from the Cavendish University Ugandan Students Association.
It is with utmost regret that I inform all of you students that one of our own, Mr Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, was reportedly arrested yesterday early morning and has since been detained in an unknown place. Mr Rukirabashaija is a second-year law student who also serves as the Inspector-General of the Cavendish Law Society – CLS. He was picked from his home in Iganga by non-uniformed security operatives alleged to be of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence – CMI. His captors told him that his alleged offence was the publication of his book, "Banana Republic: Where Writing Is Treasonous". It should be noted that this is the second time he is being unlawfully arrested. The first was against his first fictional political satire, The Greedy Barbarian.
As CUUSA, we ardently and with utmost sobriety condemn these unfortunate acts of injustice meted on one of our students. It is unacceptable and completely unjustifiable for one to be tortured for his writing and expression of his political opinions. Whereas "The Greedy Barbarian" exposed the corruption and impunity embedded in dictatorships, "Banana Republic" is the author’s narration of his agony while in detention. The barbaric acts of the security operatives are not what democracies should reflect and they must be brought to book.
CUUSA; therefore, demands for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. We demand that his rights and freedoms be respected and accorded to him. We demand that this arrest be investigated and the perpetrators apprehended. We demand that justice be served to the family and friends of Kakwenza. We stand for the rule of law and the respect of the constitutional human rights and freedoms. Free Kakwenza!
In service,
BLESSED ATWINE MUGISHA
President, CUUSA.
