By our reporter
Arua District Police Commander (DPC) has arrested journalist Draga Osman over comments he allegedly made on Facebook.
Sources in Arua town confirmed that Osman, a former Editor at the New Vision group outlet Arua One radio and currently Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) Vice President, is being detained at Arua Central Police Station.
The main complainant is Maracha Woman Member of Parliament Rose Ayaka, whose statement at Arua Police Station indicates charges of Offensive Communication against Osman.
Osman is said to have made a comment on a discussion on social media connected to a couple in West Nile region that separated recently.
It is not yet clear how many people will be arrested over comments made on facebook on the same subject and other social media platforms.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) President Lucy Anyango Ekadu condemned the arrest of Osman, saying it is reminiscent of the dark Idi Amin’s tyrannical rule of 1971 – 1979.
She said there is every reason to believe the arrest of the journalist allegedly over comments made on social media, is a mere cover up of other serious issues which Osman has exposed in Arua district.
Ms Ekadu said the arrest is a systematic move aimed at intimidating journalists in the district, suppress freedom of expression hence muzzling press freedom.
“The arrest is a systematic move aimed at intimidating journalists in the district, suppress freedom of expression hence muzzling press freedom,” she said.
She called on the police to release the journalist unconditionally and to respect fundamental principles that guarantee freedom of expression as enshrined in article 29 of the Ugandan constitution.
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