On Wednesday 1st April, the jailed online Alternative Digitalk media site journalist Arnold Anthony Mukose publicly resurfaced following his disappearance since Sunday 29th, although this time around standing in the dock on charges of alleged publication of false and distressing information about the death of the first lady Maama Janet Kataha Museveni.
He was charged before the Law Development Center (LDC) Makerere Court of Grade one Magistrate Ivan Maloba. Represented by Rachael Namutebi, the state told Court that between 26th and 29th of this month, Mukose with others still at large allegedly published false information on Alternative Digitalk channel claiming that the first lady had died.
The charge sheet further indicates that Mukose knowingly sent, transmitted or caused the publication of false and distressing message regarding the alleged first lady’s death in contravention of provisions of the Uganda Communications Commission Act, 2019, particularly section 110(e), which stops broadcasting false information, thus committing an offence.
However, the Alternative Digitalk journalist who was being represented by the lawyers; Kato Tumusiime and Kakuru Tumusiime denied all charges, before he could be remanded to Luzira prison.
His disappearance started from the premises of Metro FM Radio shortly after appearing on a talk show, sharing insights regarding the annulled Computer Misuse Amendment Act Court decision, when about eight men adorn in plain clothes according to the eye witnesses, surrounded him, put him inside a van (Noah) and sped off to un known location.
This news Website understands that he was among the petitioners of the Constitutional Court challenging the Computer Misuse Act 2022 whose several provisions were quashed by Court on grounds that they were inconsistent with the constitution.
The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) was the first to break Mukose’s disappearance news in the Sunday 29th April statement under which demand for his immediate un conditional release was echoed. UJA had also confirmed that he was temporarily detained at the Old Kampala Police before he could be moved to another location that could not be established.
Days after, the Police spokesperson for Kampala metropolitan region Rachael Kawala owned up, confirming that it was the Police that was holding him on charges that were later to be disclosed to the public.
But What Exactly Caused Journalist Mukose Detention?
Journalist Mukose Detention Ordeal.
In an exclusive interview with Blazer News Times reporter, Mukose who had been locked up in one of the LDC Court facilities ahead of his arraignment alleged, that he was held in a very cold basement at Mulago Police facility when he was moved from the Old Kampala Police Station where he was initially detained, which almost ended his life.
He narrated that the said cold-frozen basement atmosphere forced him to make a request to the detaining personnel there to just allow transfer him to Luzira prison, but all in vain.
He stated that the only thing that saved him from that was his confidants start visiting him based on the UJA and lawyer’s circulated information that he was at Mulago, following the campaign aimed at hunting and tracing his whereabouts.
Detained Over Military Related Posts
Mukose narrated to the Blazer News Times reporter that upon his interception by the security personnel, he was tasked to explain why his fugitive employer Norman Tumuhimbise had made it a good habit to share what they described as ‘classified military information’ through consistent posting on his socials, but he could not find an appropriate answer to them.
According to Mukose, he was tasked to disclose the source of the said information but declined insisting that he was not aware of it. Tumuhimbise fled from his home upon learning that his colleague Mukose had fallen in the cast security net.
Tumuhimbise, Mukose’s Alternative Digitalk founding business partner relationship with the Ugandan state has been frost, stemming from his early youthful days coupled with staged protest activities ranging from the piglet drop demos and the anti-regime book publications, resulting to his intermittent incarceration.
While breaking the said news, he has always proudly confessed to be a son of an ex-military combatant Rtd warrant officer class two; Patrick. Nuwagaba of No; RAV/013490, who was retired from the Ugandan military in 2019.
Clad in a ceremonial military fatigue for retired officers, his father addressed a press conference from his residence on Tuesday 31st in Lukuli-Nanganda- Makindye, condemning what he called the security invasion of his son’s residence with guns, leaving its occupants tortured.
Mzee Nuwagaba alleged that her daughter Lilian Tumuhimbise who was found at home during an invasion, was put on gun point disclose his fugitive brother’s whereabouts, calling it a cowardice and an act of illegality by the invading personnel.
Efforts by Blazer News Times to seek response from the Police publicist Kawala regarding Mukose claims were futile as she couldn’t pick our phone calls nor returned any of them by the time this news report was compiled.
Mukose will be returning to Court on 14th April for consideration of his bail application.
