Human rights Lawyers have dragged the government and other security agencies to court over the illegal detention of 25 Muslim children from Luwero District.
The Lawyers under and Mugisha Company Advocates have sued the Director of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, Chief of Defense Forces -UPDF, and the Attorney General seeking the release of 25 children.
In an application filed before the Kampala Civil Division, the lawyers contend that the children and teachers were picked up from Ibun Hajara Orphanage Centre Namaliga in Bombo around 1 am on August 24 in a security-owned minibus.
The lawyers claim that both the children and teachers are under illegal detention at Kyampisi child care and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters-CMI for 2 weeks now with no charges levied against them and have also been denied access to seeing relatives.
An affidavit of Salimat Mutale, a lawyer and Human Rights Defender reads in part;, “Mbuya, Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence headquarters where the applicants are being illegally detained to date is not a gazetted detention facility. The Military/CMI has blocked relatives and family members of the applicants from accessing them,”.
It adds ” no charges have been brought against the applicants in any competent court of law and no explanation has been afforded to their next of kin for their continued illegal detention”.
Eron Kiiza, one of the lawyers says;” we demand the release of these Muslim brothers who were arrested alongside minors who are now in custody at Kyampisi child care,all illegally detained ,our Muslim brothers are in CMI detention and its unfortunate that 2 weeks have elapsed without formal charges against them ,these people have families, relatives and should be allowed to access them as well as doctors and lawyers,thats why we are asking court to compel CMI and UPDF to release them”
Spokesperson of the Criminal Investigations Directorate Charles Twine said that the known parents were profiled with their children and told what to do as investigations are ongoing.
He refused to reveal when the children would be released to their parents.
According to the URN, with exception of the adults picked from the center, all children are being held at Kyampisi Childcare Ministries in Mukono, which belongs to Pastor Peter Ssewakiryanga.
The children under custody include Halimah Kivumbi, Fahimah Kivumbi, Bin Ali Ruhayyah, Sainah Nalubega, Luqumaan Ssegawa, Shafiq Oguutu, Abdulhakiim Ngabirano, Abdulrahman Mugerwa, Abdulrahman Ssozi and Abdulhamiidi Kibugwe.
Others are; Murshid Ssentongo, Ali Aziimu, Marjan Chepkwungon, Hassan Sharifu, Asharifu Ssentogo, Abdulshakur Ssewajje, Sharifu Mulondo , Jaafar Waziri , Abdulrahmaan Muwonge, Imraan Ssesanga , Ismael Sulaiman , Hassan Kirima , Faiswali Muwonge and Abubakri Battemyetto.
The Constitution provides that any person arrested should be taken to court within 48 hours such that he or she understands why they are not supposed to be released unconditionally.
