Remmy Rutagungira sits here burdened by emotions. In the company of lawyer Eron Kiiza, he is seeking his father’s freedom at the hands of the military. “I have tried to access my daddy at the military barracks in Makindye twice and I have failed. And I was told by some officers that visiting him is a privilege which can be taken away anytime.” Said, Remmy Rutagungira – Son to the Detainee. Not limited to the denial of his family rights, Rutagungira’s lawyer details severe violation and his attempts to seek redress from CDF, General Court Martial and the Attorney General have not yielded. “And this looks like discrimination because all of the rest of the accused are entitled to these rights. Their rights are being respected and when the complaint came from the son, they told the son that visitation is a privilege and they have withdrawn it.” Said, Eron Kiiza – Lawyer to the Detainee.

Rutagungira alleges brutal treatment at the hands of Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde with the motive of forcing him to implicate the former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura and H.E Paul Kagame in criminal activities involving kidnap of Rwandan refugees. In a letter dated 9th May 2018, Kiiza writes to the Country’s Representative at the United Nations seeking intervention on the infringement of the rights of Rutagungira. “And we think that the UN can add pace to the diplomatic efforts currently between Rwanda and Uganda and their respective presidents to resolve the tension that is underlying Rene’s detention.” Rene Rutagungira was arrested together with ASP Nickson Agasirwe and seven others charged with abduction by the General Court Martial of Makindye.