Family of detained businessman want him taken to court

Court has ordered the family of detained Entebbe businessman Bruno Francis Bazibu to serve four government entities with their petition seeking for orders to have him produced in court.

The four entities, who are the respondents in this case include Special Forces Command (SFC), Inspector General of Police (IGP), director of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence and the Attorney General (AG).

The family, through their lawyers of Lukwago Matovu & Co. Advocate, had appeared before High Court registrar Jamson Karemani for the hearing of their application of a habeas corpus yesterday. 

However, the respondents were not present, which prompted court to adjourn the matter to Monday next week after the respondents being served with the hearing notices and petition.

A habeas corpus application is made in court seeking a person under detention to be brought before a judge or magistrate, especially to secure that person’s release unless lawful grounds are shown to justify their continued incarceration.

In a sworn affidavit filed in court, Mr Bazibu’s wife, Ms Fiona Namazzi, says her husband’s detention is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and an infringement of his personal liberty.

She says Mr Bazibu is a civilian being held incommunicado since October 31, by agents of SFC, for more than 48 hours without being produced or charged in any competent court and  no explanation has been accorded to his next of kin for his continued detention.

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

Ms Namazzi states that as a result of her husband’s continued detention, she is worried that his physical and mental state may be affected.

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