Arnold Anthony Mukose, a journalist at Digital Talk online television, has been charged with publishing false and distressing news about the death of First Lady Janet Museveni and remanded to Luzira Prison.
Mukose, who was arrested over the weekend as he exited the Metro FM premises after a radio talk show by security operatives reportedly from the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATT), was driven back to his house in Lukuli Nanganda for a search before being detained by Old Kampala Police Division.
At 2:00 pm, Mukose appeared before Grade One Magistrate Ivan Maloba of the Law Development Centre Court.The state prosecution, led by Rachel Namutebi, indicated that between the 26th and 29th of this month, Mukose and others still at large knowingly and unlawfully published fake news on the alternative Digital Talk channel, claiming that First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni was dead.
The charge sheet also stated that Mukose knowingly sent, transmitted, or caused a false and distressing message that First Lady Janet Museveni was dead on those dates.
Grade One Magistrate Ivan Maloba, who read the charges to Arnold Mukose, said that broadcasting fake news is contrary to the Uganda Communications Commission Act 2019, particularly section 110(e). Mukose pleaded not guilty to the said offences.
His team of lawyers, led by Kato Tumusiime and Kakulu Tumusiime, had their efforts to secure court bail accepted by the magistrate, but state prosecutor Rachel Namutebi requested more time to verify the submitted credentials of the sureties.
Her request was accepted, and the magistrate adjourned the matter to 14 April this month and remanded Mukose to Luzira prison to give the state time to verify the sureties’ documents, including the suspect’s home of residence and National Identity Cards.
