Uganda: State Department Condemns Arrest of Black Star News Columnist and Calls for Freedom of Press

 

The U.S. Department of State has condemned the recent arrest of Black Star News columnist and book author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. The writer was arrested Sept. 18 by Uganda's Chieftaincy for Military Intelligence (CMI) the secret police and beaten for a new book called "Banana Republic, Where Writing Is Treasonous." That book is an account of his earlier arrest and torture by the CMI in April for authoring a novel called "The Greedy Barbarian," about an African dictator who turns the country's national treasury into his family's personal ATM machine.

 

"We are aware of reports of the September 18 arrest of Ugandan writer Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. The United States condemns threats, harassment, and violence targeting journalists.  No journalist should be arrested for simply doing their job. Independent voices are a critical component of a vibrant, functioning democracy," the State Department said, in a statement released to Black Star News today.

 

"We are seeking additional information regarding this arrest and will continue to monitor developments."

 

Rukirabashaija has now been released and has written an account about his Sept. 18 arrest.