Journalists and Social media influencers have been arrested this evening by Kabale police, at around 11:40 PM allegedly connecting them with the planned “March to UMEME” protest scheduled for tomorrow, August 9, 2024.
The arrested individuals include Job Namanya Apuuli, a journalist with Vision Group, Obed Kankiriho, a journalist affiliated with The Source UG Website and Daily Monitor, and social media influencers Murungi Charlotte Kemigisha, commonly known as Kemmy, and Tumuranze Precious. They were apprehended at Café Barista, a popular hangout in Kabale town.
The arrests were led by Andrew Akanyijuka, the Officer in Charge of Kabale Police Station, who stormed the café with several officers and presented an arrest warrant citing charges of inciting violence. The group was then swiftly taken to Kabale Police Station, where they are currently being detained.
CUE IN…..JOB AND OBED//RR//
In a phone interview, the Kabale District Resident Commissioner (RDC) Godffery Nyakahuma expressed concern over the arrests, describing the incident as unfortunate and uncalled for. He noted that there are no strong links between the arrested individuals and the planned protest, raising questions about the legitimacy of the charges.
The arrests come in the wake of a social media campaign that has been gaining momentum, mobilizing residents for a peaceful demonstration against UMEME, the electricity distribution company. The protest, dubbed “March to Kabale UMEME Offices,” is a response to the frequent and prolonged power outages in the region, which have severely disrupted daily life and local businesses.
Residents have expressed growing frustration with UMEME’s inconsistent power supply, which they claim has had a detrimental impact on services and livelihoods in the area. The planned march aims to hold UMEME accountable and demand reliable electricity services for the community.
Through a phone interview with the Kabale District Resident Commissioner RDC, He says that this is an unfortunate incident and was uncalled for because there are no strong links of the arrested individuals with the protest.
The situation remains tense as the community awaits further developments, with many questioning the legality of the arrests and the implications for freedom of expression and peaceful protest in the region.
ENDS///////
