Upon besieging the Pepper Publications head office in Namanve by Uganda Police yesterday, it has been revealed that the arrested bosses are currently detained at the highly protected, Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja.
The arrested bosses include CEO, Richard Tusiime, Arinaitwe Rugyendo who is the CMO, Patrick Mugumya the COO, and James Mujuni, the CCO.
The Bosses were arrested with the Red Pepper Editors that include Ben Byarabaha, Richard Kintu and Francis Tumusiime
“They were all bundled on police vans,driven on breakneck speed, first to their homes for search then to Nalufenya. This is to intimidate and infringe on the rights and freedoms of the press,” says Company lawyer Denis Nyombi
Police says that they initiated an investigation Red Pepper published serious statements and insinuations in a story that have grave implications on national and regional security and stability.
“Following the publication of a false story by the Red Pepper in their November 20. 2017 edition titled, “M7 PLOTTING TO OVERTHROW KAGAME-RWANDA”, the Uganda Police Force, this morning initiated investigations into the serious statements and insinuations in that story that have grave implications on national and regional security and stability,” Reads a statement signed by Police Spokesperson SSP Emilian KAyima.
“The initial investigations are being carried under S 37 of the Penal Code Act, which provides for the offence of “publication of information prejudicial to security”.
He further said that the Red Pepper is closed until further notice.
“The Red Pepper premises, since they are a scene of crime, have been cordoned off to facilitate these investigations, and will remain so as long as it is necessary.
“The premises of The Red Pepper have been secured and will remain cordoned off until further notice.”
