Samson Kasumba is already home, @CanaryMugume catches up with him.
#NBSLiveAt9 #NBSUpdates #StaySafeUG pic.twitter.com/nLeDocsP8h
— NBS Television (@nbstv) April 21, 2020
KAMPALA — The police has on Tuesday night released Mr. Samson Kasumba, the NBS Television news anchor arrested in Kampala on Monday.
His lawyer Nicholas Opiyo said Mr. Kasumba has been ordered to appear at Kira Police Station on Monday April 27, 2020.
Speaking to NBS immediately after his release, the senior news anchor said police arrested him on allegations of seditious comments.
The sedition law was in 2009 thrown out by the Constitutional Court after a petition by the Daily Monitor and veteran journalist Andrew Mwenda .
Mr. Kasumba maintains that the allegations against him are baseless.
NBS TV tweeted:
“Good News: Samson Kasumba has a few minutes back been released from Kiira Road Police Station. We thank all the stakeholders that have made this possible”.
#Breaking: Samson Kasumba is out of Police cells on Police bond. pic.twitter.com/hQJkUW1Sh9
— #FreeSamsonKasumba (@CanaryMugume) April 21, 2020
Several media bodies led by Uganda Editor’s Guild, Uganda Journalist Association (UJA) and African Centre For Media Excellence (ACME called upon the police to conduct a speedy, transparent, and legal investigation into Mr Kasumba’s alleged activities while at same time respecting all his rights.
“The Uganda Editors’ Guild calls on the Uganda Police Force to conduct a quick and transparent investigation into the matter while ensuring that Mr Kasumba has access to legal counsel, and all his other rights are respected,” a statement issued by Mr Alex B. Atuhaire, on behalf of the Interim Chairman, reads in part.
Mr. Atuhaire said that whereas Editors are aware of comments by the police spokesperson Mr. Fred Enanga that Mr. Kasumba is being charged in connection with allegations unrelated to his work as a journalist, “we shall remain appraised of the matter and take this opportunity to remind all Ugandans, including those in positions of authority, that #JournalismIsNotACrime”.
