VITOL OIL :Statement on Continued Incarceration of Journalist Richard Wanambwa

Statement on Continued Incarceration of Journalist Richard Wanambwa.

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) strongly protests the continued imprisonment of journalist Richard Wanambwa with an online site the Eagle, who has been in jail since December 11th 2024 on some slapped charges.

Wanambwa was placed before the Nakawa Chief Magistrate Court on 13th December and charged with demanding money and property with menace under sections; 270 and 273 of the Penal Code Act, which he pleaded not guilty to, before he could be remanded to Luzira prison.

The state alleges that the suspect demanded $ 50 ,000, $ 30, 000 and 72 million shillings from Fisher Kasule and Alex Mandama on behalf of one Abu Mukasa. The allegations against Wanambwa are in connection to his written investigative stories about Vitol Oil Trading Company.

Sadly, the journalist’s efforts to exercise his constitutional right to apply for a bail through his lawyer Samuel Ocitti with the Human Rights Network for Journalists have not been successful following the absence of the trial Magistrate.

With the view of the above, The Uganda Journalists Association has therefore, instructed its legal team to join forces with Wanambwa lawyers and other stakeholders in the fight for his freedom to ensure that he regains his freedom through immediate release from jail.

We feel journalists should not be gagged in the name of slapping criminal charges against them.

Emmanuel Kirunda, Secretary General,
Uganda Journalists Association (UJA).

Dated, Thursday January 09 2025.