Three journalists working for the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC), a driver and a Ministry of Health (MOU) communication officer have been granted police bond after a night in detention.
The journalists; Godfrey Badebye, Rashid Kaweesa and Kassim Muhammad, as well as their driver Shadow Kisaame were detained yesterday at Central Police Station (CPS) Kampala together with Vivian Nakaliika, a wife to NBS television journalist Solomon Sserwanja. Nakaliika is a Communication officer with the Ministry of Health.
This morning, a team comprising of the Chief Executive Officer NBS TV Kin Karisa and a representative from the BBC Nairobi Bureau and Human Rights lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi went to CPS to secure their bond.
At around 10:00 am, detectives led by the Officer in charge of Criminal Investigations Joshua Tusingwire agreed to release them on bond as investigations into the alleged illegal possession of classified drugs continue. The suspects have been asked to report back on February 18, 2019.
“They have told us that investigations are still ongoing but we were prepared for anything,” said Robert Ssempala, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Network for Journalists HRNJ-Uganda. Ssempala, Kin Karisa and journalist Raymond Mujuni stood surety for the group.
It is alleged that detectives and operatives of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) uncovered several boxes of Malaria and Hepatitis B vaccine in Solomon and Vivian’s home in Mukono.
Preliminary information indicates that Godfrey Badebye and Kassim Muhammad were the first to be arrested on Wednesday together with their driver Shafiq Kisaame from Makindye where they were allegedly meeting two medical officers who were meant to sell to them more drugs.
The three revealed upon interrogation that they had been working on a documentary through which they were able to buy various drugs from the black market across the country. In the aftermath, another BBC Journalist Rashid Kaweesa was arrested alongside Vivian Nakaliika.
-URN