Stop Harassing Journalists, Release Richard Wanambwa – UJA Demands Immediate Freedom for Jailed Journalist”

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has come out to strongly oppose the continued incarceration of journalist Richard Wanambwa at Luzira Murchison Bay Prison where he has been confined since December 2024.

Wanambwa who is attached to the Eagle online site, was arrested on 11 th December 2024 and detained at Kira road Police Division-Wakiso district from where he was moved to Nakawa Chief Magistrate Court in Kampala where he was slapped with various charges.

According to the issued protest statement by the UJA Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda, Wanambwa faces charges of 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 Alexander Kibandama on behalf of one Abu Mukasa”. The statement reads in part.

The allegations against Wanambwa according to the statement are in connection to the stories that had been published about Vitol Oil Trading Company.

Vitol Bahrain acquired an exclusive right in November 2023 to supply fuel to other fuel dealers on the Ugandan market through Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) amid protest from MPs on the natural resources committee and some stake holders in the oil and gas sector.

“Sadly, the journalists’ 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”, the statement further reads.

It is against that background that the journalist’s body has directed its lawyers to join the ongoing case against Wanambwa in ensuring that he is released to be free once again.

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

UJA observes that journalists should not be gagged in the name of slapping criminal charges against them.

Wanambwa has now brought to 3 the number of jailed journalists for publishing stories questioning Vitol, including Alirabaki Sengooba and Dickson Mubiru of Grace Publications that runs the Grape Vine website and Bwiino local newspaper.

The two journalists were released on bail following the assistance from UJA and other stake holders.