BUKOTO, KAMPALA: Police have today re-arrested four Radio Simba presenters and comedians belonging to local comedy group, Bizonto.
The Bizonto comedians who include Kidomoole real names Julius Sserwanja, Simon Peter Ssabakaki, Mbabali Merceli, and Gold Kimatono aka Opeto were picked from Radio Simba premises in Bukoto where they host a morning show dubbed “Binsangawano”.
According to Police Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department – CIID spokesperson Charles Twine, the quartet will appear at Buganda Road Court today to answer for the charges.
“They are on their way to Buganda Road court. They had a sanctioned file for allegations of promoting sectarianism,” Twine said.
Twine says Bizonto’s charges stem from last year’s arrest in which they were detained for several days on allegations of promoting sectarianism and offensive communication.
The Bizonto were in July 2020 arrested and detained for promoting sectarianism and inciting violence when they released a satirical skit in which they mentioned several heads of government institutions denoting how they all hail from the western part of the country..
In their skit, the group mentioned President Museveni, Electoral Commission, UNRA, Uganda Prisons, URA, NSSF, Ministry of Finance, ISO and CMI bosses.
The police then slapped on them charges related to recording and sharing a video with the potential of causing hatred and unnecessary apprehension and it is the same charges that have seen them arrested for the second time.
The comedians however said they intended to teach children, who were stuck at home because schools were shut down, about the people who occupy strategic positions in Uganda.
They listed President Museveni, Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi, and Lt Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the senior presidential advisor on special operations.
The others they listed are: Bank of Uganda Governor Tumusiime Mutebile, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi, Commissioner General of Prisons Dr Johnson Byabashaija, Minister of Security Gen Elly Tumwine, Internal Security Organisation boss Col Bagyenda Kaka, Chief of Military Intelligence Maj Gen Abel Kandiho, commander of the Special Forces Command Maj Gen James Birungi, and the Electoral Commission chairperson, Mr Simon Byabakama.
When it came to the police force, the comedians pointed out its head, Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, but were quick to add that Maj Gen Sabiiti Muzeeyi, the then deputy Inspector General of Police, was very influential in decision making within the Force.
They urged their fans to teach their children who is who in the country, further urging them to pray for Uganda’s leaders.
According to the law, promoting sectarianism is punishable by up to five years in prison.
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