Red Pepper editors get bail

Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Ereemye Mawanda has granted Red Pepper editors bail.

The magistrate granted them a sh20m non-cash bail, but ordered them to deposit their passports in court.

Those granted bail are Arinaitwe Rugyendo, 41, Richard Kintu, 33, James Mujuni, 42, Patrick Mugumya, 40, Richard Tusiime, 45, Johnson Musinguzi alias Byarabaha, 44, Ben Byarabaha, 38, and Francis Tumusiime, 43.

They have spent close to a month in custody at Luzira Prison. The accused are battling seven counts of defamation and offensive communication in relation to a November 20, article headlined ‘M7 plots to overthrow Kagame'.

The state claims that the article portrayed the trio as plotting to overthrow the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame.

The state also accuses the suspects of defaming Gen. Salim Saleh and security minister Gen. Henry Tumukunde.