Two journalists – Ivan Kimbowa and Erick Yiga, working with Insight Post Uganda, have been arrested arrested following the publication of an investigative story that exposed alleged bribery involving Faridah Nasolo, the Inspector of Schools in Mukono municipality and other officials.
According to a source inside the CID’s investigative team, Nasolo is under investigation by the State House Anti-Corruption Unit for allegedly paying a bribe to the Mukono District Service Commission in exchange for securing her position. However, following the publication of the exposé three days ago, all hell broke loose.
Nasolo’s husband, reportedly a senior army officer, is said to have used his influence to have the journalists arrested and is now actively pursuing Davis Buyondo, the News Editor who led the investigation.
The army officer has allegedly demanded that Insight Post journalists reveal their source or face serious consequences including detention by CMI (Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence).
Despite being coerced into taking down the original story as a condition for the release of Kimbowa and Yiga, the threats have not ceased. The officer has vowed to use “peaceful or violent means” to uncover the source behind the exposé, putting the lives and freedom of other journalists at risk.
Insight Post strongly condemns the targeting of journalists and demands the immediate release of our colleagues and an end to the harassment of media personnel. Journalism is not a crime.
COTFONE’s Statement
“We strongly condemn the arbitrary arrest and harassment of journalists who were only doing their job of seeking truth and holding the powerful accountable,” said Yisit Kayinga Muddu, the Director-Community Transformation Foundation Network (COTFONE) said in a statement.
According to Kayinga, the intimidation of Insight Post Uganda staff is a clear attack on media freedom and democratic values.
“We call for the immediate release of all detained journalists and an end to threats targeting others. Journalism is not a crime , it is a public service,”he added.
In the meantime, the different media organisations and associations including Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) have intervened and following up the matter.
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