The Monitor (Kampala)
Andrew Bagala
30 October 2009
Police yesterday interrogated two Daily Monitor journalists for allegedly conspiring to "bring down" former Inspector General of Government, Justice Faith Mwondha.
Ms Anne Muhwezi, the company secretary, said Senior Reporter Tabu Butagira was questioned for allegedly "misreporting" July 21 as the date when Ms Mwondha took up her new assignment as Nakawa High Court Resident judge.
While Mr Stephen Wandera, acting photo editor, is accused of "intentionally" deploying photojournalist Steven Otage to "hunt for and take the picture of Justice Mwondha" following her return to the bench.
Investigating officer Barasa Wejuli, quoting Mwondha's statement, said the two incidents were part of a larger plot by detractors to bring her down using the media.
The story in question reported the date when Justice James Ogoola, the Principal Judge, re-assigned several judicial officers, among them Justice Mwondha.
"My understanding is that this is a straightforward matter in which journalists covered a public interest issue involving public officials," Ms Muhwezi said.
Managing Editor Daniel Kalinaki said; "These claims are preposterous and a worrying sign of how state resources are being wasted in inglorious and nefarious schemes to inconvenience those that hold public officials to account. They are doomed to fail."
Mr Butagira and Mr Wandera were interrogated at the CID headquarters at Kibuli for three hours but no charges were preferred against them.
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