Ugandan writer and Novelist Rukirabashaija Kakwenza is currently healing from scars on his buttocks, his back and thighs, as a result of wounds he sustained in detention -a medical report from Kitalya prison has confirmed.
Kakwenza’s health condition is stated in a medical report released on January 20, 2022 by Kitalya Prison authorities where he had been on remand since January 11, 2022 on charges of offensive communication against president Yoweri Museveni and the Commander of Land Forces Muhoozi Keinerugaba.
Buganda Road Magistrate’s court on January 11, 2022 sent Kakwenza (33) on remand at Kitalya Mini Max Prison after state charged him with two counts for willfully and repeatedly disturbing the peace of President Yoweri Museveni and the commander of Land Forces Muhoozi Keinerugaba using his Twitter account.
Before he was sent to prison, Kakwenza was held incommunicado in military detention after armed men broke into his house and whisked him away. His lawyer Eron Kiiza claimed Kakwenza was tortured in detention and that at one point he was urinating blood.
However, the medical examination conducted on Kakwenza at Kitalya Prison on January 13, 2022 found him “in fair general condition with weight 87.3Kg, Height 1.95m, Body Mass Index 22.9Kg2. His blood pressure was stable at 106/64 mmhg with a pulse rate of 78 beats per minute which was full volume and regular. He also had healing scars on the back, the buttocks and hands for which he is on medication.”
The report follows his lawyers’ request for their client’s status during a court session last week.
The medical report signed by Dr Kisambu James on behalf of the commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija concludes that the award winning novelist Kakwenza “is healing from scars and in good health condition.”
The report indicates that systemic examination covering Kakwenza’s nervous system, cardivasicular, gastrointestine and respiratory system was normal while laboratory examination did not yeild positive results.
The report also states that the wounds and scars on Kakwenza’s body were sustained before being remanded to Kitalya.
Kakwenza will be brought to court tommorow January 21, 2022.
