KAMPALA, UGANDA: Three employees attached to Next Media Services Limited have been remanded to Kitalya Prison until October 15, over defamation and offensive communication.
The three; Isaac Kawalya Ssemulondo alias Kayz who works with NBS TV, Brian Kennedy alias Waako, and Williams Makuliro alias Makko both attached to Sanyuka TV were arrested on Friday evening and charged with cases of offensive communication and criminal libel towards Singer Emmanuel Ssuuna, alias Omulangira Suuna.
According to state prosecution, ‘‘the accused committed the crime on August 27, 2021, while at Sanyuka Television, Next Media Services Ltd in Kampala City.’’
“Journalists and people in the media should be careful when talking about people in the media to avoid making statements that are criminal in nature. These four presenters made repeatedly offensive statements on television despite caution from the complainants,” the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) spokesperson, ASP Charles Twiine said on Friday evening.
“They were warned but continued to repeat the statement,” he said.
Omulangira Suuna through his lawyers Mr. Robert Lutaalo and Mr. Precious Nahabwe from Elgon Associated Advocates dragged the said Next Media Services journalists to court over defamation and character assassination.
Suuna had earlier noted that NBS Uncut’s show hosts, Anatalia Oze, Kayz, and Zahara Totto have made it a habit to attack and accuse him of things he has no knowledge about and subsequently damaged his reputation.
According to the ‘Love yo’ singer, the accusation by the detained presenter was that the singer has bad luck while commenting about Ssuna’s new mansion. The presenters according to Suuna claimed that he lost his parents which he said is not true.
“I have been quiet for a while, I have a mother. You stood on the TV and said that my parents died that’s why I have bad luck, my parents were seated next to me. You said that they died and I failed to bury them that’s why I am unlucky. ” a bitter Suuna ranted.
“If you don’t have good things to say about me, why don’t you leave me alone. Do you want to tell me that I have nothing good I’ve done you can say about me,” he warned.
A few days back Spark tv and Dembe FM Presenter Kasuuku came out and revealed that Suuna gave him a call and vowed to sue NBS TV’s Kayz for defamation unless the media house comes out to publicly apologize to him.
“Suuna called me yesterday and told me that he is going to sue the NBS Uncut show. He said they have been talking ill about him and his brand, it is now time to hold them accountable for whatever they said last week,” Kasuku noted.
Another motormouthed blogger currently on the run over similar offences is Uganda Bloggers Association President Ibrahim Tusubira alias Isma Olaxess who by press time was hiding in fear of being arrested.
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