Makerere University Researcher and activist Stella Nyanzi returned to the Buganda Road Magistrates Court today after two weeks behind bars at Luzira prison.
Through her lawyer Nicholas Opiyo, she told court that she had faced discrimination, with authorities even denying her access to literature, her children and lawyers.
“Your Honour, our client has been restricted from having access to any literature apart from the Bible. We are not saying the Bible is not essential but she should not be restricted from other forms of literature,” Opiyo informed Court, adding: “They even denied her from accessing her next of kin; her children and relatives. It even becomes worse when it comes to other members of the public.”
According to Opiyo, the actions of the authorities are tantamount to denying the accused access to justice.
“Lawyers are not mere visitors (to be denied access to their clients). They are officers of Court facilitating justice. It’s wrong not to be allowed to be allowed to have a private chat with their client,” he added.
Opiyo requested the Buganda Road Court to compel the prison authorities to respect Nyanzi’s rights.
However, despite the State Attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya also condemning the treatment which Nyanzi has been subjected to, urging that her rights ought to be respected, the trial magistrate, James Mawanda Ereemye ruled that Court “wouldn’t interfere in Prisons work” since Opiyo had made a formal complaint to the prison authorities.
Meanwhile, Nyanzi also requested for the stay of proceedings in the Magistrates Court, saying she had filed an application in the High Court ‘seeking guidance’, following what she called an erroneous remand.
The application is to be heard tomorrow by High Court Judge, Justice Elizabeth Kabanda.
Nyanzi is facing charges of Cyber Harassment and Offensive Communication where she is accused of having used Facebook to call President Yoweri Museveni among other things ‘a pair of buttocks’.
