Activist Agather Atuhaire arrested
Human rights activist and journalist, Agather Atuhaire has been arrested.
Ms Atuhaire was arrested on Thursday during a march to the Supreme Court in Kampala, to protest the continued trial of civilians in military courts.
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She is currently being detained at the Central Police Station (CPS) along with other human rights activists.
"All I'm saying is that the law in this country should be followed. What we were trying to do is go to the Supreme Court to ask the Chief Justice (Alfonse Owiny-Dollo) why he has sat on cases that are affecting people's lives. He has sat on the case for four years," Atuhaire said as she was escorted to CPS.
"Civilians are being tried in military tribunals. A lawyer representing his client was taken away very aggressively," she added.
The protest was sparked by the recent detention and sentencing of lawyer Eron Kiiza, who is one of the lawyers for opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye.
Earlier today, Atuhaire had announced her intention to march to the Supreme Court to protest the judiciary's neglect of urgent applications regarding the unchecked powers granted to military courts.
Atuhaire criticized the denial of Kiiza's rights to free expression and a fair hearing, asserting that his sentencing was both unfair and unjust.
"Eron, the other day, a lawyer that is representing his clients was picked up, very roughly and taken to prison, sentenced summarily . You should allow citizens express themselves. Eron Kiiza was trying to represent his clients. There was no fair hearing. Nothing!" she said.
On Tuesday, Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe, the chairman of the army court, stated that despite previous warnings to Kiiza regarding serious professional misconduct, he failed to comply.
"Today (Tuesday), when the accused entered the courtroom, he immediately confronted the court orderly guiding him to his seat and began assaulting the orderly while banging on the entrance's bars," Brig Mugabe reported.
However, Kiiza's sentencing has raised alarm among human rights advocates and opposition members.
