The High Court has ruled that human rights lawyer Mr. Eron Kiiza should be allowed to retrieve his passport so he can travel abroad for medical treatment.
Delivering the decision on June 25, 2025, Justice David Matovu approved Kiiza’s request, emphasizing that although holding onto his passport was a lawful bail condition, it should not interfere with his basic right to travel, particularly since the original bail terms placed no restrictions on his movement.
“The presiding judge, Hon. Michael Elubu, clearly anticipated situations where the applicant might need his passport for travel. There were no conditions limiting which countries he could visit or the reasons for such travel,” noted Justice Matovu.
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Mr. Kiiza was sentenced to nine months in prison in January 2025 by the General Court Martial after being found guilty of contempt of court. He appealed the verdict in both the Court Martial Appeals Court and the High Court, and was granted bail on April 4, 2025. One of his bail requirements was to surrender his passport to the court.
Represented by KTA Advocates and M/S Kiiza & Mugisha Advocates, Mr. Kiiza applied for the release of his passport, citing the need for medical attention and an upcoming international trip to Costa Rica for rest and recovery. In his affidavit, he expressed that the delay in accessing his passport was aggravating his trauma and causing sleeplessness. He also pointed out the inconvenience of using alternative travel documents within East Africa.
Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo opposed the request, arguing that Kiiza had not submitted adequate medical proof of his condition and could be a flight risk. “There is no reliable evidence that he cannot receive treatment in Uganda. Holding his passport is essential to ensure he stays in the country until his appeals are resolved,” Kyomuhendo contended.
However, Justice Matovu rejected this argument, pointing out that Kiiza had already demonstrated responsibility by returning to Uganda from Nairobi using a temporary travel document.
“The court sees no credible threat of flight. The bail terms issued by Judge Elubu are enough to ensure the applicant’s return,” he ruled.
While the court noted that Kiiza hadn’t provided medical records to support his claim, Justice Matovu stated this alone wasn’t sufficient reason to deny him access to his passport—especially since there were no specific restrictions on retrieving it.
He further clarified that the order to surrender the passport was not meant as a punishment.
The judge concluded by ordering that Passport No. AA00541257 be handed back to Mr. Kiiza for his medical travel abroad, with the strict requirement that it be returned to the court once he is back in Uganda.
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