COMMENT | Olivia Nalubwama | “I think of you as the freest person I know…Then everyone you know is a slave.”This haunting line is from the Ayi Kwei Armah’s classic book, The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born, on the failure of post- independence African leaders. Enter Sam Mugumya. In 2014, …
Read More »Kisoro leaders call for release of detained Ugandan businessman in Rwanda
Kisoro, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kisoro district authorities have protested the prolonged detention of Ugandan Valence Kibyeye, a prominent fabrics dealer in Rwanda. They have asked President Paul Kagame to intervene. According to Kisoro authorities, Kibyeye, who deals in African Fabrics alias “Bitenge” was arrested and detained in Rwanda about two …
Read More »Number of detained persons inflated, says army
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Joint Chief of Staff of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda has said the number of detained persons circulated by activists is an exaggeration. Kyanda said that counter verification involving the Uganda Human Rights Commission revealed that only five per cent …
Read More »Prisons boss irked by questions about jailed NUP supporters
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Johnson Byabashaija, the Commissioner General Uganda Prisons Services has asked supporters of the National Unity Platforms (NUP) party, to stop pestering him to release their members in prisons, saying he has no powers to do so. He has instead advised them to redirect the appeals …
Read More »NUP launches fundraising campaign for Ugandans detained in UAE
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The National Unity Platform on Thursday launched a campaign to raise funds for Ugandans detained in the United Arab Emirates-UAE. Speaking in Kampala, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, NUP President said as a party, they cannot look on when hundreds of Ugandans and other Africans continue to …
Read More »Kakwenza’s wife sues SFC Commander over continued detention
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The wife of novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija has sued the Special Forces Commander over the continued detention of her husband. In an application filed before the Civil Division of the High Court, Kakwenza’s wife Eva Basima is suing the SFC Commander Brigadier General Peter Candia, the …
Read More »Lawyers petition court over Rukirabashaija’s continued detention
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The lawyers representing novelist Kakwenza Rukirabashaija have petitioned the Makindye Magistrates Court over his continued detention. Kakwenza was arrested four days ago from his home at Rave Apartments in Kisaasi by armed security personnel. Through his lawyers of Kiiza and Mugisha Advocates, they contend that …
Read More »Besigye condemns student arrests at Makerere University
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Former President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Dr. Kizza Besigye has condemned the arrests and detention of students at Makerere University for protesting against the 15 percent tuition increment. The increase in fees is being implemented so that all new students enrolling …
Read More »Detention beyond mandatory 48 hours on the increase-UHRC report
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Torture of suspects and detention beyond 48 hours is on the increase according to Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC). According to the 2018 Annual Report on the state of human rights, violation of freedom from torture increased by 3% in 2018 with 346 complaints …
Read More »TORTURE: Kadaga directs Human Rights Committee to inspect Nalufenya
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga has instructed the parliamentary committee on human rights to visit and inspect Nalufenya detention facility and report to the house in regard to torture allegations at the now infamous Jinja-based facility. In her communication to the house during Wednesday’s plenary sitting, Kadaga directed the committee chaired by …
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