Lawyer for Ugandan opposition politician ‘arrested and tortured’

Kampala: So, there’s this human rights lawyer named Eron Kiiza who got into some serious trouble recently. He was arrested and tortured after trying to defend a prominent opposition leader in Uganda. It’s pretty shocking stuff.

On January 7, while heading into a military courtroom to represent Dr. Kizza Besigye, Kiiza was grabbed by soldiers. They didn’t waste any time; he was convicted of contempt of court and slapped with a nine-month sentence right away. Talk about a rough day!

He was sent off to Kitalya prison, which is about 34 miles from Kampala. Human rights groups like Amnesty International are calling for his release, saying this whole situation is a major violation of laws.

Lawyers who visited him in prison reported that he showed signs of both mental and physical torture. His body was all swollen, especially his joints and head. It sounds like he really took a beating.

One of his lawyer friends, Andrew Karamagi, mentioned that it’s pretty common for the forces to rough up people they arrest. Kiiza was definitely feeling the effects of those beatings, with pains in his chest and back.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the armed forces dismissed the torture claims as nonsense, insisting that Kiiza is doing just fine. They even claimed that his imprisonment is totally legal.

The reaction to Kiiza’s arrest has been one of disbelief. It’s a big deal because lawyers usually don’t get treated this way while doing their jobs. It really shows how the rule of law is breaking down in Uganda.

Besigye, the opposition leader Kiiza was defending, has had his own troubles too. He was recently abducted in Kenya and brought back to Uganda, facing serious charges that many believe are politically motivated.

With elections coming up, it seems like things are only going to get tougher for those opposing the government. Karamagi warned that repression is likely to increase, and it’s a worrying trend for the future.