Police in Kampala have Monday morning raided Top Radio, a Bwaise based radio station, arrested presenter Richard Kasule alias Omuggagga Kamagu and whisked him to Wandegeya police station.
According to Steven Dunstan Busuulwa, the station’s manager, the charges are not yet known but was in touch with the police for details.
“I was in Entebbe this morning and got a telephone call from the Wandegeya police station DPC Joseph Nsabimana, informing me of the arrest of one of our staff. I drove to the police station where I am currently but charges are not yet known to us”, Mr. Busuulwa said.
Kamagu who has severally vowed to unseat the Mukono municipality legislator Betty Nambooze from Parliament in 2021/3, hosts a weekly morning show dubbed ‘Simbula’ which entails comedy, politics, sports and music, alongside Aligaweesa Muwonge and MP Allan Ssewanyana who features for sports analysis towards the end of the show.
According to eyewitnesses, Kamagu was pulled by the trouser by officers dressed in Police uniform with guns who put him onto a police pickup and drove him to Wandegeya police station.
Police Spokesperson Emilian Kayima told journalists that Kamagu was arrested for making defamatory utterances, although he was hesitant to reveal exactly what statement the presenter made and who he defamed.
“This morning, we arrested Kamagu a deejay who works with Top Radio, for his reckless monuth and irresponsible talk which amounts to defamation,” Kayima said.
“He will record a statement and we shall fully charge him. It is not the first time he is making such utterances, so, we shall also verify recordings of what he has said on air previously,” Kayima added.
He warned journalists and media personalities to take precaution and ensure that whatever they say is within the law.
“We don’t want to infringe on the rights of the press. However, while you enjoy your rights, don’t infringe on other people’s rights”.
This is the second time in two months that security agencies raid Pastor Jackson Ssenyonga’s station with the most recent in January when officers from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence invaded the station and arrested Boda Boda 2010 leaders who had been hosted on a morning show.
Kamagu’s arrest comes at a time when another veteran journalist, Rev Isaac Bakka, who went missing four months ago is in Luzira on treason charges while another news reporter with the New Vision, Charles Etukuri has been missing for close to a week.
