By Lisa Vives <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A human rights watchdog group is calling on the government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to investigate claims by internationally acclaimed writer, Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, that he was severely tortured while in detention for his social media postings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human Rights Watch called the arrest of the satirical novelist a testament to the continued repression of dissidents in the East African country through strict cyber security laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rukirabashaija was arrested shortly after Christmas over a series of unflattering social media posts about the President and his son Muhoozi Kainerugaba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 33-year-old published writer said military officers broke into his home in Kampala, beat and blindfolded him, confiscated his phone, and drove off with him to an unknown location where he was kept for 14 days without access to family or lawyers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Feb. 9, two days after a court denied his application to have his passport returned, Rukirabashaija said he fled the country to seek medical treatment for the injuries caused by the beatings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rukirabashaija is the author of the books \u201cBanana Republic – Where Writing is Treasonous\u201d and The Greedy Barbarian\u201d for which he will share the PEN Pinter International Writer of Courage prize with Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Activists have been repeatedly targeted using the strict Computer Misuse Act which muzzles freedom of expression online, especially if it involves criticism of senior government officials or \u201cwillfully and repeatedly uses electronic communication to disturb the peace, quiet or right of privacy of any person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rukirabashaija thanked Ms. Dangarembga for choosing to share her PEN prize with him. \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for PEN, I would still be somewhere in prison \u2013 perhaps forgotten,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I was hanging on chains in the dungeons, I swore to my tormentors that I would never write again if they gave me a chance to live\u2026 Truth is, I survived death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe authorities should end the criminalization of protected speech online and offline and address legitimate concerns raised by critics instead of persecuting them,\u201d HRW researcher Oryem Nyeko said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a related development, popular social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor, Ghanaian leader of the lobby group #FixTheCountry, was arrested this week after making comments on social media against a controversial bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill, popularly known as E-Levy, proposes a 1.75% tax on electronic transactions including mobile money payments. \u201cIf this E-Levy passes\u2026 I will do the coup myself,\u201d wrote the activist for which he was arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n