The City Hall Magistrate’s court today granted bail to Stanley Ndawula, a journalist and the CEO of the Investigator Publications Limited, after he had been formally charged with offensive communication.
Ndawula, 45, and his brother Robert Ndawula where granted non cash bail of Shs 700,000.
Friday Kagoro, Ndawula’s lawyer lodged in the application saying his client was a law abiding citizen and respectable member of society.
The prosecurion side lead by ASP Benon Ayebare did not object to the bail application leaving the presiding magistrate Beatrice Khainza wioth no option but to grant the duo bail.
The two were arrested last week and detained at Kira road police station.
According to the charge sheet signed by Mike Chibita, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ndawula is accused of libel contrary to sections 179,180,181 and 182 of the Penal Code Act.
“On the 28th day of October 2017, at Kisaasi with an intent to defame Gen.Kale Kayihura, they published an article in the Investigator online alleging that Gen.Kayihura had resorted to killing his own police officers as a way of covering his crimes, a story which is false and has caused hatred, ridicule, contempt and has damaged the reputation of Gen.Kayihura,” reads part of the charge sheet.
The said offences according to the Director of Public Prosecutions were contained in an article titled; Civil rights activist pens down an open letter to Gen.Kale Kayihura every Ugandan should read.
The article was published on the website of the Investigator.
Ndawula made his mark as a fearless crime reporter for the Red Pepper between 2006 and 2014. In the mid 1990s, he worked as a correspondent of Bukedde in the greater Masaka sub region.
Ndawula and his brother are expected back in court on November 22.
