Annet Najjemba, the Programs Director at Radio Kitara told Uganda Radio Network that as Kyalisiima was broadcasting the event unfolding live on Radio Kitara, security officers arrested him and whisked him off to an unknown destination.
Charles
Kyalisiima, a reporter attached to the Masindi based Radio Kitara is in trouble
for reporting live the district council elections.
Kyalisiima was picked up
while broadcasting an incident where the Agents of Cosmas Byaruhanga, one of
the candidates for the Masindi LC V Chairperson seat were accusing the agents
of his rival, Wilson Isingoma Mugimba of conniving with recruits from Kabalye
police training school to rig in his favour.
The agents accused the police recruits of voting at Kabalye
polling station yet they are not registered voters in the area. This sparked
off violence between the two camps.
Annet Najjemba, the Programs Director at
Radio Kitara told Uganda Radio Network that as Kyalisiima was broadcasting the
event unfolding live on Radio Kitara, security officers arrested him and
whisked him off to an unknown destination.
The officers confiscated Kyalisiima’s equipment a mobile
phone and recorder that he was using to report the event. According to Najjemba,
the reporter was later set free after thorough questioning by the security
officers.
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Vincent Irama, the Masindi District Police Commander-DPC told URN that he was
not aware of the arrest of the journalist, adding that he was yet to consult
and find out the offence he had committed at Kabalye polling station.
The Masindi LC 5 race has attracted four candidates
including Cosmas Byaruhange, the NRM candidate, Tom Kweesi from the Forum for
Democratic Change-FDC, Wilson Isingoma Mugimba and Lenox Mugume, both independent
candidates.
However, the race has been tight between Byaruhanga, who is
the Incumbent and Mugimba.