Richard Tusiime, the proprietor of Madonna Hostel, Kyambogo, was last evening detained in the country’s most notorious torture chamber, Nalufenya in Jinja.
Madonna Hostel houses students from both Kyambogo University and Makerere University Business School [MUBS].
Tusiime, who also doubles as the CEO of The Pepper Publications (the publishers of The RedPepper tabloid) was arrested together with his co-founders; ArinaitweRugyendo, James Mujuni and Patrick Mugumya for publishing a false story that could lead to “grave implications on national and regional security and stability.”
Police raid
RedPepper premises were on Tuesday afternoon raided after police secure a search warrant. The company lawyer, Denis Nyombi says that the arrested Redpepper founders “were all bundled on police vans,driven on breakneck speed, first to their homes for search then to Nalufenya.”
Police speaks out
Police Spokesperson SSP Emilian Kayima, in a statement also explained the siege and closure of the Namanve based media house. The statement reads;
“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.
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.
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.”
We shall keep you posted.
