Court orders security to produce kidnapped businessman

The High Court in Kampala yesterday ordered government to produce an Entebbe businessman who was kidnapped by security agents last month.
The court ordered government to produce Mr Bruno Francis Bazibu dead or alive next Monday. Mr Bazibu’s family applied for a habeas corpus (order for production of detained person).

“Upon reading the notice of motion in respect of Bazibu Bruno Francis dated the 17th day of November 2020 and the affidavit of the aforesaid application filed in support of that motion, it is hereby ordered that a writ of habeas corpus issues to produce the body of Bazibu Bruno Francis before this court on November 30, 2020,” Justice Emmanuel Baguma ruled.

Mr Bazibu’s family lawyers of Lukwago, Matovu and Co. Advocate sued the presidential guard Special Forces Command (SFC), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of Military Intelligence and Attorney General (AG) accusing them of kidnap.
In a sworn affidavit filed in court, Ms Fiona Namazzi, the wife of Mr Bazibu (applicant), said her husband’s detention is illegal and unconstitutional.
She stated that he has been held incommunicado since October 31 by SFC without being produced or charged in any court, and no explanation has been accorded to his next of kin for his continued detention.

 “On October 31, my husband was arrested by plain clothed men of SFC while at Okello House in Kampala where he had gone for a meeting. And ever since his arrest, I and his lawyers have tried on several occasions to access him in vain,” Ms Namazzi’s affidavit reads in part.
She added.

“To my surprise on November 11, some security agents of the third respondent (SFC) and police officers from Kajjansi Police Station conducted a search at our home at Bwebajja but still denied me an opportunity to talk to my husband.”

“In the interest of justice and in accordance with the law, I pray that my husband is produced in court by way of habeas corpus and unconditional release from unlawful detention,” the application states.
However, Mr Hillary Nathan Ebila, a state attorney, had informed court that it is hard to get information from security agencies due to the bureaucracy.