Two journalists, Stanley Ndawula and Robert Ndawula both from the Investigator on-line publication have been charged before Kampala City hall court with Libel and offensive communication in which the prosecution says they disturbed the peace of IGP Kale Kayihura.
The journalists have been however released on a cash bail of Shs 700, 000 each by Grade one magistrate Beatrice Kainza after denying the 2 counts.
A police prosecutor attached to CID hqs ASP Benon Emmanuel Ayabare has informed court that due to the on-going state prosecutor’s strike, the DPP gave him instructions to represent him in court as the journalists appear.
According to the charge sheet, the 2 journalists are said to have repeatedly posted stories on social media outlets such as Facebook and Watsup claiming the police chief is engaged in criminal activities such as murder, kidnap and espionage; something that has caused him shame and ridicule before the right thinking members of society.
Prosecution further contends that between the months of September and October 2017 at the Investigator Publication offices in Kisaasi, the 2 journalists formed an intention to defame Kayihura by publishing articles that the IGP had started killing his own police officers, his home was under siege by the military and that he had been arrested; which statements were false.
The 2 journalists were arrested last week and spent several days in custody at Kiira Road police in Kampala before they were produced in court this afternoon.
They return to court on the 22nd /November 2017 as investigations continue.