Buganda Road Chief Magistrate's Court has ordered the detention of two journalists, Dickson Ashley Mubiru and Alirabaki Ssengoba, at Luzira prison on charges of publishing information without holding a valid broadcasting license.
Mubiru, who serves as the managing director of Grapevine News Publications, and Ssengoba, a reporter for the same publication, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Thursday to face allegations on two separate counts. The prosecution's case contends that Mubiru and Ssengoba, along with other unidentified individuals, published a controversial story on June 1, 2024, in Kampala. The story in question, titled "Inside Story: How Top Legislators Shared a $5 Million Vitol Oil Bribe," was released by Grapevine without the necessary authorization from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).
In another incident, the prosecution alleges that on May 15, 2023, Grapevine published another story without a valid license. This piece, titled "Lawyer Kabali, Justice Nkonge Clash Over Court Case File," also lacked the required operational permit from the UCC. Both Mubiru and Ssengoba have entered pleas of not guilty to these charges.
State attorney Ivan Kyazze informed the court that the investigation into these matters is still underway. Meanwhile, the defense attorney, Nasser Kibazo, representing Sengooba and Mubiru, was not prepared to apply for bail at the time of the hearing. Kibazo cited the absence of necessary documentation as the reason for the delay and requested a brief adjournment to prepare a bail application, proposing June 21 as the new date for this procedure.
The contentious articles at the center of this legal dispute have drawn significant attention. The article published in June 2024 detailed allegations of corruption involving top legislators and a $5 million bribe from Vitol Oil. This explosive revelation has stirred considerable controversy, leading to the legal actions now being pursued against the journalists.
Furthermore, the earlier story from May 2023, which reported a supposed conflict between Lawyer Kabali and Justice Nkonge, prompted a swift reaction from the judiciary. Following the publication, the judiciary issued a formal press statement denying any such clash between the two legal figures, asserting that the story was unfounded.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges and tensions between the media and regulatory authorities in Uganda, particularly concerning the requirements for operating licenses. The remanding of Mubiru and Ssengoba underscores the serious legal repercussions faced by media professionals when failing to comply with regulatory standards set by bodies such as the UCC. As the case progresses, it will continue to attract significant public and media interest, especially concerning issues of press freedom and regulatory compliance in the country.
