UPBEAT: Monitor reporter Nyakairu (centre) sandwiched by Police officers at the Kampala Central Police Station yesterday (Photo by: Charles Opolot)

--Editors Obbo and Wanyama charged
By Felix Osike,
Anne Mugisa,
Geofrey Kamali
& Solomon Muyita
The seven-day closure of The Monitor offices by the Police is over.

The Police said yesterday they had got what they wanted and the paper could resume production.

“Mmmm. The air smells good. It’s good to be back home. I feel relieved,” David Ouma Balikoowa, the production chief, said on entering the premises.

Regional CID chief Moses Sakira who led the security team that sealed off the paper last week, handed back the keys to Balikoowa.

The keys had been in the custody of IP Hussein Tembo, of the Mobile Police Patrol Unit (MPPU).

All equipment seized by the Police was also returned except two central processing units used by managing editor Charles Onyango Obbo and news editor Wanyama Wangah. The Police said they were still trying to extract possible evidence from the processors.

The equipment which included computers, diskettes, mobile phones and recorders, was handed over to the owners at the CID headquarters.

All officers on guard at the premises were withdrawn. Deputy CID chief Okoth Ochola said the information they gathered was useful to their investigations.

“At least from our technocrats, we’ve got what we wanted,” he said.

It was not clear if the paper would hit the streets today. “We are going to assemble all reporters and see what we can do,” Balikoowa said last evening.

Obbo and Wanyama were yesterday charged at the Buganda Road Court with publishing information prejudicial to national security and likely to assist the enemy in its operation.

They were also charged with publishing false news. The paper said a UPDF helicopter gunship crashed while in combat in Adilang Hills in Pader district after it was allegedly downed by LRA rebels. But the army said the report was false.

Both Obbo and Wanyama who appeared before chief magistrate Frank Othembi, pleaded not guilty. They were released on a sh500,000 bail each, with their four sureties bonded for sh2m each, not cash.

Monitor reporter Frank Nyakairu, expected to be charged with the two editors, was not produced in court. He arrived in Kampala from Gulu late.

The Police said Nyakairu will be charged today. He was detained at the Central Police Station (CPS). His mother, Faith Nyakairu and his uncle, Jonathan Byabasaija, were present.

The courtroom was fully packed with journalists, relatives and supporters of the accused. Two of the supporters, John Ndyabagye of Kololo Golf Course Road and Robert Kalundi Sserumaga, the director of the National Theatre, stood surety for Obbo. Tom Malaba and Odobo Charles Bichachi, both Monitor journalists, stood for Wanyama.

The editors were represented by Nangwala, Rezida & Company Advocates. The State Attorney was Jane Kajuga.

Yesterday afternoon, editor-in-chief Wafula Ogutu, chairman Martin Aliker and Nation’s chairman Hannington Awori held a meeting with internal affairs minister Eriya Kategaya in Kampala to chart the way forward.

Information state minister Basoga Nsadhu said yesterday that the Police obtained relevant documents and useful information. He said in a statement the Police investigations continue.

“We wish to commend the Police for the speed and professionalism, which they exhibited while handling this cas,” Basoga stated. He advised the media to be ethical and mindful of national security. The temporary closure of the monitor attracted worldwide concern among donors and rightists.
Ends