By our reporter
The five directors and three editors of Red Pepper Publications have been denied bail and sent back to Luzira prison till December 19.
The publication’s bosses were arrested last month as police operatives led by Kampala Metropolitan Commander Frank Mwesigwa cordoned and searched the tabloid’s main offices in Namanve after it published a story that Ugandan leader Yoweri Museveni was planning to overthrow his counterpart in Rwanda.
Prosecutor Abdul-Salam Waiswa from the Uganda Communications commission (UCC) asked Buganda Road Court not to release the eight journalists charged with offending President Museveni and his brother Gen Salim Saleh on grounds that their freedom endangers national security
He asked chief magistrate James Ereemye Mawanda to further remand the eight directors and editors saying if released, they are likely to repeat the offence.
Mr Waiswa who quoted the affidavit of the investigating officer Assistant commissioner of police Isaac Oketcho, who informed court that if the suspects are set free, they will gain access to their computers, e-mails and mobile phones and there is a likelihood of re-connecting with their networks to frustrate the on-going investigations.
The five directors are; Richard Tusiime (CEO), Patrick Mugumya (CPO), Arinaitwe Rugyendo (CM0), James Mujuni (CCO) and Johnson Musinguzi Byarabaha (CFO).
The editors are; Ben Byarabaha (Managing Editor), Richard Kintu (News Editor) and Tumusiime Francis Tinywana (Bwino Newspaper Editor who doubles as General Manager).
These appeared for the first time in court on November 27th, where they were read the charges and through their lawyers Max Mutabingwa and Geoffrey Kandeebe applied to be released on bail.
