By our reporter
Kibuli- Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (CID) are investigating media houses over stories which suggested that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen Kale Kayihura was bedridden in India.
Red Pepper tabloid managing editor Ben Byabaraha on Tuesday recorded a statement with Media Crimes detectives before he was released on police bond on charges of offensive communication in the stories they published about Gen Kayihura between June 12 and June 15.
Mr Byabaraha is supposed to reappear on June 27 at CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala.
The claims and counter-claims about the general’s health gained traction on social media and some online publications after the Red Pepper reported in a story that he was bedbound.
Mr Vincent Ssekate, the CID spokesperson said on Tuesday that five media houses are under investigation.
“Red Pepper editor Byabaraha recorded a statement with our detectives and he was released on police bond. There are several media houses that are under investigation. The offences vary, but they are all related to the stories they wrote about Gen Kale Kayihura. The editors of those media houses are going to be summoned and record statements,” Mr Ssekate said.
Redpepper broke a story last week where it alleged that the battle hardened general cum Igp was rushed to Indian under critical condition. However, Police spokesperson Asan kasingye quickly came out and denied the allegation as ‘baseless’, and said their boss was away in Turkey for official duties on behalf of the force.
