Red Pepper journalists remanded to Luzira till Dec 19 for bail ruling

The state has asked court to deny Red Pepper journalists bail on grounds that they are likely to resume their ‘poisonous publications’ that are a danger to security.

A prosecutor from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Mr. Abdul-Salam Waiswa asked Court not to release the eight Red Pepper directors and editors charged with libel and offensive communication against President Museveni, Security Minister Henry Tumukunde and Gen Salim Saleh (Rtd) on grounds that their release would endanger national security.

The journalists also charged with publishing information prejudicial to national security allegedly subjected the trio to hatred, contempt and ridicule.

The prosecutor, Waiswa quoted Assistant commissioner of police Isaac Oketcho affidavit informing court that if the suspects are set free, they will gain access to their computers, e-mails and mobile phones and there were likely to use their networks to frustrate the on-going investigations.

Mr Waiswa urged court to take into account the gravity of the offence of publishing information prejudicial to national security saying that the journalists are a danger to security of the entire great lakes region.

Directors Arinaitwe Rugyendo, Richard Tusiime, Johnson Musinguzi, Patrick Mugumya, and editors Richard Kintu, Ben Byarabaha, Francis Tumusiime and James Mujuni have been remanded to Luzira after court adjourned the bail application hearing to 19 Dec 2017.

They journalists were arrested on November 21, 2017 over a story that claimed that Rwanda alleged that President Museveni was planning to topple President Kagame.