By Spy Uganda
Five editors of major online newspapers have been summoned by Police to appear at its CID headquarters in Kibuli on Friday 8th Feb 2019 for interview and statement recording vide CID HQT.GEF 1222/2018.
According to summons, Thespy Uganda’s Andrew Irumba, Spy Reports Raymond Wamala, Bob Atwine, Richard Wanambwa (Eagle on line), and John Njoroge (CEO) are required to appear before the Department of Electronic Counter Measures (Cyber-crime Desk) of the CID on Friday at 10am to answer queries related to ‘defamation and personation’ charges.
Although the complainants are not revealed in the summons, independent sources told this reporter that it’s a continuation of last year’s General enquiry file opened by BoU former Executive Director in-charge supervision Justine Bagyenda against the online journalists who have been reporting about the BoU saga involving her and other top Bank officials.
“You know Governor Mutebile and team complained to the president that the online media was hurting the economy by reporting on the on-going saga at BoU, because their stories are read worldwide. So he instructed deputy IGP a fande Sabiti and CID boss Grace Akullo to ‘handle’ you, so don’t get surprised,” a source told this reporter on condition of anonymity.
When contacted for a comment, Andrew Irumba, CEO Spy Uganda said he would honour the summons but wondered why police wasn’t interested in the real people hurting the economy by stealing in Billions but rather those reporting about the vice!
“I’m a law abiding citizen, I have never refused to respond to police summons, so, together with my colleagues, like last year, we shall come. But I’m wondering; now the most targeted person is the journalist giving police tips on where crime is being committed rather than the one committing the same? Because, I have not heard police summoning Bagyenda and Kasekende even for a statement recording on the said ‘allegations’ of siphoning colossal sums of money,” Irumba said.
“RE: INVITATION FOR AN INTERVIEW AND STATEMENT RECORDING VIDE CID HQT.GEF 1222/2018.
The above subject matter refers,
This directorate is conducting investigations into the case of Defamation and Personation. Pursuant to section 27A of the Police Act, you are required to report to Criminal Investigations Directorate headquarters in Kibuli on Friday 08m February, 2019 at 10:00hrs to assist in providing valuable information in respect to the matter being investigated. You will report to the Department of Electronic Counter Measures for further guidance. Treat this matter as urgent. Failure to appear will result into your arrest using all possible legal means. Your positive and timely response will be highly appreciated.
Kiirya Sisye Benard
For: Director Criminal Investigations,” read the summons.
Our sources pointed to the fact that Ms.Bagyenda and Kasekende want to use police to gag journalists from writing about them in regard to their alleged involvement in the on-going BoU saga that is now before parliament’s COSASE committee.
This is not the first time Cid police is summoning online journalist over BoU stories, last year on October 20th ,John Njoroge (editor CEO Magazine), Bob Atwine (editor Spy Reports),Richard Wanambwa,the chief editor of Eagle online and Andrew Irumba Spy Uganda were summoned and wrote statements over the same.
