DETAINED: Remmy Asiteza
Journalist Remmy Asiteza, who reports for Daily Express, an online news publication, was arrested last Thursday on a reported order from Presidency Minister Milly Babalanda and Presidency PS Al Hajji Kakande, and remains detained at the Central Police Station in Kampala.
Online journalist leader Andrew Irumba has protested the arrest, saying Asiteza was picked up after allegedly reporting corruption in the recruitment of RDCs and is being pressured to reveal his sources. Asiteza may be produced in court today, sources said, while Kampala Metropolitan Police had not responded by press time.
Irumba’s petition
POLITE REQUEST TO POWERFUL HON.MILLY BABALANDA AND AL HAJI YUNUSU KAKANDE:
Since Friday last week, Uganda Police Force (CPS) arrested a journalist with Daily express, a one Asiteza Remmy, allegedly, on orders of two very powerful people;
Al Haji-Yunusu Kakande (PS office of the president) and Hon. Milly Babalanda (Minister in charge of the presidency).
Reason? That he wrote a story alleging corruption in the recruitment of RDCs in the president’s office.
What’s my problem as a leader in the Industry?
1- The two alleged complainants are not arguing that it’s not true or it’s true. No. The condition they have put on him since Friday, if he wants to be released is that; HE MUST REVEAL THE SOURCE!😂😂.
Now, for us in the media, to reveal your source means going against the ethics of journalism. There’s even a law that shields 🛡️ us from illegal demands.
If you’re working in the original of the president, and it’s the vanguard of Rule of Law (that’s where ALL laws in Uganda are signed and ratified), we expect you to help the president to implement the rule of law. You become the Apostle (Omutume) of rule of law. But now when you use your office to arm twist the very laws you’re helping in signing from your office, then…..
2- The alleged complainants, according to sources, have not formerly written their complaints, but just communicating on phone 📞 to Afande Mpamizo Aggrey, who is handling the file.
3- I have attached here a clip by NTV Uganda , where minister Babalanda herself participated in the night operation of arresting fraudsters who claimed they were going to get people RDc jobs, and they charged unsuspecting victims because they claimed they were from the office of the President. Hon. Babalanda herself in captured in that video giving her side of story and alerting Ugandans to he alert. That operation, I’m told (I have no evidence on this), a staff of the presidency office was also arrested for connivance.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni himself complained of thieving stealing from his office and home, himself!
So there’s nothing new about these things.
My request; as President of Independent online Journalists Association (Indoja-u), I have been trying to reach out to you since Friday when I got the bad news, but you have too busy to pick my calls, that’s ok.
But I request that let’s compare notes and see how to resolve amicably. When that fails, let him be produced today in court so we can start on another process of securing his bail.
Otherwise, demanding to reveal sources is illegal, and I spoke to him through my team on ground not to kowtow to that poohoo.
Let’s talk. I thank you 🙏
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