Police forwards 39 Red Pepper cases to Media Council
THE police forwarded 39 cases against the Red Pepper to the Media Council for action.
By Herbert Ssempogo
THE police forwarded 39 cases against the Red Pepper to the Media Council for action.
“Attached are media extracts that have been portraying the state negatively since August 2006, they should be handled under the Press and Journalist Act Cap 105,†a letter by Elly Womanya, who is in charge of media and political affairs, read.
The council’s secretary, Paul Mukasa, subsequently asked the Red Pepper to file their defence. “You are directed to file a written statement of defense with the Media Council within 14 days after receipt of this letter,†his letter dated February 19 said.
Attached were several stories about President Yoweri Museveni, security officers and ministers.
The move comes after Museveni lashed out at the media for what he called “misleading the population†during his speeches marking NRM Day and Army Day.
He accused the Red Pepper of publishing falsehoods when addressing NRM leaders from Buganda in Entebbe.
The move also comes after the Red Pepper bosses had been summoned by the Criminal Investigations Departments (CID) over ‘seditious’ stories.
The paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Richard Tusiime, first appeared last Friday over a story, which claimed that the Kabaka received $1m from a State House official to sack his premier, Dan Muliika.
Tusiime was on Tuesday summoned again by CID over a story in which they alleged that the Presidential Guard Brigade was spying on Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya and another one which claimed that Bukenya had sacked one of his guards.
Tumusiime, who stood by the stories, claimed it was a plot by the Government to close the paper. The Police refused to comment.
THE police forwarded 39 cases against the Red Pepper to the Media Council for action.
“Attached are media extracts that have been portraying the state negatively since August 2006, they should be handled under the Press and Journalist Act Cap 105,†a letter by Elly Womanya, who is in charge of media and political affairs, read.
The council’s secretary, Paul Mukasa, subsequently asked the Red Pepper to file their defence. “You are directed to file a written statement of defense with the Media Council within 14 days after receipt of this letter,†his letter dated February 19 said.
Attached were several stories about President Yoweri Museveni, security officers and ministers.
The move comes after Museveni lashed out at the media for what he called “misleading the population†during his speeches marking NRM Day and Army Day.
He accused the Red Pepper of publishing falsehoods when addressing NRM leaders from Buganda in Entebbe.
The move also comes after the Red Pepper bosses had been summoned by the Criminal Investigations Departments (CID) over ‘seditious’ stories.
The paper’s Editor-in-Chief, Richard Tusiime, first appeared last Friday over a story, which claimed that the Kabaka received $1m from a State House official to sack his premier, Dan Muliika.
Tusiime was on Tuesday summoned again by CID over a story in which they alleged that the Presidential Guard Brigade was spying on Vice-President Gilbert Bukenya and another one which claimed that Bukenya had sacked one of his guards.
Tumusiime, who stood by the stories, claimed it was a plot by the Government to close the paper. The Police refused to comment.