One Political activist and author ‘Norman Tumuhimbise’ and nearly eight other journalists and staff of Alternative DigiTalks, an online media platform, were arrested last Thursday. They have whisked away in a “drone” in the afternoon following a military raid at their office in Makindye.
And now, the Uganda government has been dragged to court, and all nine journalists belong to Digitalk TV.
The offices of Digitalk Tv, an online television in Makidnye, were last week raided by security and several members, including activist Norman Tumuhimbise, Arnold Mukose, Faridah Bikobere, Jeremiah Mukiibi, Tumusiime Kato, Lilian Luwedde, Teangel Nabukeera, Rogers Turyahabwe, and Jeje Wabyona arrested.
Yesterday, the lawyer’s group led by ‘Eron Kiiza‘ demanded bail from the High court of Kampala. It sought orders for the mandatory and unconditional release of the group that had been in prison for more than 48 hours.
There is an affidavit issued by Innocent Ainebyona indicating that the offices of Alternative Digitalk, an online platform, it was raided by the armed police and military men on March 10 at around 3 pm before arresting nine of their journalists.
As per the sources that the joint team arrested the whole media house, including the nine journalists, and they did an investigation in the entire media house’s premises and seized all equipment of the media house, including cameras, media van, their phones, even their personal computers, laptops, books, hard disks and drives, recorders, CDs and many other small types of equipment.
In the affidavit, the nine were later bundled into a waiting numberless mini-bus and whisked away to the Special Investigations Division in Kireka, where they remain.
Moreover, it is stated that the lawyers and their family members have since been denied access to the group.
After their arrest, they were held isolated at Kireka Special Investigation Division to defy the Constitution and other Ugandan laws for over 48 hours.
As per the application, they were arrested, searched the office, and did all these things without warrants.
As per the application, that court has been asked to order all nine journalists’ compulsory and unconditional release since their rights have been violated by being arrested and detained beyond the mandatory 48 hours.
