The Uganda Police force has today confirmed the arrest of a group of journalists.
Among the arrested is Godfrey Badebye, Shafiq Kisame and Rashid Kaweesa, all working for BBC together with the Ministry of Health official Vivian Sserwanja who doubles as a wife to famous NBS TV Journalist.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, the team was found in possession of stolen government medication.
“They were arrested from Makindye where they were meeting a person who was supposed to sell them the said drug. Upon arrest and interrogation, they revealed that some of the drugs they had bought were hidden at Solomon Sserwanja’s home in Mukono district.” Onyango said.
Onyango added that on raiding Sserwanja’s home, they didn’t find him and that how they arrested his wife Vivian, searched their house and managed to recover the said boxes of drugs.
“We found14 boxes of Lamefantine tablets, vaccines for Hepatitis B and other drugs labeled with government seals.” Onyango added.
However on speaking to the National Coordinator of Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) Mr. Robert Ssempala, they have deployed a legal team led my legislator Medard Lubega Ssegona to see that the detained officers get justice.
Several people have however poked holes in the entire police operation saying that it was stage managed and aimed at blocking the journalists form uncovering ministry officials selling government medicine on black market.
Its further said that NBS Television is in a strong partnership with BCC Africa and the duo were working on an investigation into the alleged sale of government drugs, but its unfortunate that the journalists are being arrested to protect the real culprits.
