Two journalists, Dickson Mubiru and Alirabaki Sengooba of Grace Publications, have been released on bail after being jailed for nearly a month.
They were detained for publishing without a valid broadcasting license on the Grape Vine website and in the Ono Bwiino newspaper.
Makindye Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court magistrate Sienna Owomugisha granted their bail following a fresh application by their lawyer, Andrew Mumpenje.
The journalists were arrested on June 18, 2024, from their Kampala offices and detained at the Central Police Station before being presented to Buganda Road Court Chief magistrate Ronald Kayizzi.
The first charge against them relates to a June 13, 2024, story published on Grape Vine about top legislators allegedly sharing a $5 million bribe from Vitol Oil.
The second charge involves a May 15, 2024, story about a clash between Lawyer Kalali and Justice Nkonge.
Both charges cite the lack of a valid broadcasting license from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), contrary to Section 27 of the UCC Act 2013. Mubiru and Sengooba deny the charges.
On July 9, 2024, the journalists were granted a 1 million shillings cash bail by Buganda Road Court magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko for the first file.
The hearing for the second file by Chief magistrate Kayizzi did not proceed, leading to the transfer of the case to the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court.
Appearing before magistrate Owomugisha on July 10, 2024, the journalists were required to take a fresh plea as all their case files had been transferred.
The hearing was later scheduled for July 11, 2024.
During the session, prosecutor Kenneth Seguya requested an adjournment to complete investigations, representing complainants Justice Alexandra Nkonge Rugadya, UCC, and MP Mutembuli.
Lawyer Mumpenje argued for bail, citing the presumption of innocence under Article 23 of the Constitution and the presence of substantial sureties.
Magistrate Owomugisha granted bail, requiring the sureties to pay non-cash amounts of 10 million and Shs3 million.
Among the sureties were Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda, Jennifer Bukirwa, Samali Nannyanzi, Godfrey Tomusange, Teddy Nambuya, and Donozio Mugwanya.
The court was adjourned to July 29, 2024, for further hearing.
Following the session, UJA Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda welcomed the journalists' release, stating that journalists should not be persecuted for their work.
"Journalists do not make things happen but just report them; they are just messengers," Kirunda said, urging journalists to uphold the principle of truth-telling in their duties.
