Agather Atuheire, a prominent human rights lawyer and activist, has this Thursday been arrested while leading a peaceful protest against the arrest and conviction of her colleague, Eron Kiiza.
Atuheire and a group of activists had sought to deliver a petition to the Chief Justice, Owiny-Dollo demanding accountability for prolonged delays in high-profile cases, some pending judgment for over four years.
“The Chief Justice has sat on cases that are affecting people’s lives,” Atuheire said shortly after being arrested, emphasizing the plight of detainees subjected to prolonged and unjust trials.
Atuheire is currently detained at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS).
Speaking while being led to custody, Atuheire criticized the judiciary’s failure to uphold the rule of law and highlighted the harsh treatment of Eron Kiiza, who was recently sentenced to nine months in prison by Makindye General Court Martial.
“All I’m saying is that the law in this country should be followed,” Atuheire said.
“Eron was trying to represent his client. There was no fair hearing—one of the basic tenets of justice we have. Citizens should be allowed to express themselves because what is happening is not right.”
Drama
Kiiza, a lawyer representing opposition figures Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye and Mr. Obeid Lutale, was convicted for contempt of court on Wednesday by the military court martial.
According to a statement issued by a group of lawyers and human rights defenders, Kiiza was neither given an opportunity to plead to the charges nor defend himself.
The statement, read by lawyer Phillip Karugaba at Makerere University’s Human Rights and Peace Centre (HURIPEC), described Kiiza’s conviction as a grave miscarriage of justice.
Karugaba said lawyer Kiiza was convicted for contempt of court and sentenced to nine months imprisonment.
“He (Kiiza) was not asked to plead to the charges nor was he given a chance to defend himself. He was condemned unheard,” the statement said.
“At the heart of this all is the thorny issue of the trial of civilians in the court martial that has been due for judgment in the Supreme Court for the last five years. This is about human rights, justice, and the Rule of Law.”
Kiiza’s conviction and Atuheire’s arrest have sparked widespread condemnation from the legal community and human rights groups.
