BBC Journalists Arrested in Uganda

Police in Uganda have arrested five individuals, including journalists working for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), who are to be charged with illegal possession of classified drugs after allegedly purchasing them from an undercover officer. Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the suspects include two Ugandans and one Kenyan working for the BBC, a diver and the wife of a local journalist from NBS Television whose husband is yet to be located.

The individuals concerned are understood to have been investigating the theft and sale of government drugs in neighbouring countries, with government spokesman Ofwono Opondo claiming that they had in fact been assisting the State House Health Monitor Unit on the matter.

Commenting on the matter Opondo said “They should be released unconditionally.” Also stating, I am yet to find out the logic why police arrested these journalists, who in my view were helping government to unearth the rot which is in the system.”

Meanwhile, the Ugandan communications regulator has ordered the Daily Monitor to shut down its website for failing to register under regulations introduced last year. The newspaper is the major independent title in the country.