Police in Kumi District is detaining a New Vision journalist on allegations of cyber harassment.
Under Uganda’s Computer Misuse Act 2011, anybody found guilty will be charged a fine of Shs480, 000 or an imprisonment of not more than a year or both.
James Odongo Akia was arrested last week at New Vision Bureau by plain cloth police men attached to East Kyoga and detained at Soroti Central Police Station before being handed to Kumi Central Police Station.
He is the second journalist to be arrested and charged under the electronic crime law, which was introduced in Uganda in 2011 amid objections from human rights activists.
The other journalist is John Ogulei a freelance reporter with Voice of Teso who has since mid-last month been on remand at Soroti Government Prisons where he is expected to be appear again in court on March 27, 2020.
Mr Odongo’s lawyer Mr Paul Menya, a legal associate at Okurut Okalebo Outeke and Company Advocates, tried to secure his release but all his efforts were in vain. Mr Odongo whose case file number is CRB112020 is expected to appear before court this week.
According to police , the suspect is alleged to be running pseudo Facebook account under the name of ‘Mr Okou Charles which, he allegedly used to attack Dr John Ekure.
However, Mr Menya says he could not have his client bonded out because police said he is charged of two files; one preferred by Dr Ekure and another one opened by Gen Peter Elwelu.
But Mr Elwelu while appearing on Etop radio on Saturday Evening show hosted by Patrick Oluk said he did not open any cause against Mr Odongo.
Mr Odongo told journalists at CPS Kumi that he is not Mr Okou.
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