By Spy Uganda
Kampala: After caging them at the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Kireka on Friday, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) has formally handed over Bizonto’s case to police, our sources say.
Our reporter has further learnt that the four Bizonto are likely to be presented in court on Monday. “Yeah, they slept in Kireka at SIU. They’re likely to be there till Monday when they will probably be taken to court,” our source said.
On Friday, all the homes of the four Bizonto were searched by CMI operatives, who were looking for the small drums the comedians were drumming while recording the troublesome video skit, which the police say was intended to promote sectarianism.
“They went to their homes and searched them; I don’t know what they got,but so far I have learnt that they’re coming any time from now to search Kidomole’s car, which they suspect is harboring the small drums they’ve been using,” Omulangira Ndausi, their on-air Manager told this reporter while at SIU, Kireka. He also said that Kidomole’s car spent the night at Kira Road police pending a search, after they (CMI) failed to get time on Friday.
Kidomole’s car search comes a day after the suspects were escorted by CMI operatives to their homes for house search following their arrest from Radio Simba FM station in Bukoto, Kampala.
The Bizonto comedians were arrested for recording and sharing a video skit in which they were allegedly asking Ugandans to tell their children to pray for several top government officials who they said all hail from one part of the country, something police described as promotion of Sectarianism.
The arrested include: the head of the comedy group Julius Serwanja aka Kidomole, Mbabali Malicel, Ki-Gold Matono aka Mr.Opeto and Sabakachi Peter aka Kazonto Akatono.
What Is Sectarianism
According section 41 of the Penal Code Act, sectarianism is the practice of degrading or exposing to hatred or contempt or disaffection for anyone on the basis of religion, tribe or ethnic or regional origin.
One commits the offence if he/she prints, publishes, makes or utters any statement or does any act which is likely to “(a) degrade, revile or expose to hatred or contempt; (b) create alienation or despondency of; (c) raise discontent or disaffection among; or (d) promote, in any other way, feelings of ill-will or hostility among or against, any group or body of persons” on the above sectarian grounds. The offence carries a maximum punishment of five years’ imprisonment.
However, Section 41(2) of the Penal Code says it can be a defence to a charge of the offence of sectarianism, if someone prints, publishes, makes or utters, a statement that can be perceived to be promoting sectarianism with a view to expose, discourage or eliminate matters which promote or have a tendency to promote sectarianism.
