PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SEARCH OF THE NATION MEDIA GROUP AND PEPPER PUBLICATIONS

Members of the Uganda Police Force this morning cordoned off the premises of the Nation Media Group in Namuwongo and Pepper Publications in Namanve. The FM radio stations - K FM and Dembe FM were taken off-air. This is to reassure Ugandans that the government is not interfering with press freedom. The search of the above premises comes on the heels of the utterances made by Gen. David Sejusa, aka Tinyefuza which have caused undue excitement. This is being treated as a matter of national security. However the police is working within the parameters of the law, specifically, section 37 of the Penal Code which bars the publication of information prejudicial to national security. The Police went through the due legal process and secured a court order which was issued by a court of competent jurisdiction (Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court). There is therefore nothing untoward or surprising about the procedures used, as great care has been taken to follow the law to the letter. For the time being the premises in question are being treated as crime scenes. As soon as investigations are over which will be very soon as police is under instructions to handle the matter expeditiously the premises will be duly handed back to the owners.

About social media

This is also to quash rumours going round that Social Media has been banned or that the platforms are about to be closed. This is not true. There is no plan to switch off or disconnect Social Media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.

Hon. Mary Karooro Okurut (Mrs) Minister of Information and National Guidance