Edward Anyoli
23 September 2009
Kampala — TWO editors of The Independent magazine were yesterday charged with publishing seditious statements against the President.
Andrew Mwenda and Charles Odoobo Bichachi were charged at Buganda Road Court.
Prosecution said the two published a seditious statement 'NRM 2011 Campaign Strategy' and a cartoon entitled "Prepare court case on Otunnu and Besigye, Mutale to arrange Kibooko squad, and introduce ghosts on voters' register."
Festo Nsenga, who led the prosecution, said the cartoon and the publication were intended to bring hatred, contempt and disaffection against President Yoweri Museveni.
However, Nsenga's attempts to have court deny the two editors bail was unsuccessful when magistrate Francis Matenga overruled his reasons as insufficient.
Nsenga had said if Mwenda and Odoobo were released, they would continue to make similar remarks against the President.
The two journalists, who denied the charges were granted a cash bail of sh200,000 after their lawyer, Bob Kasango, presented substantial sureties to court.
The sureties Hussein Kashilingi, Patrick Matsiko Macoori, John Musinguzi and Godrick Dambyo, pledged a non-cash bond of sh1m.
Under the Penal Code, any person found guilty of sedition is liable to a fine of sh50,000 or serving a prison sentence not exceeding five years.
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