Ugandan journalist Remmy Asiteza detained on fake news charges

Ugandan journalist Remmy Asiteza has been detained and charged with “publishing fake news” and “broadcasting without a license.” Asiteza, who runs the news site Daily Express, was arrested in Kampala on August 13 following his reporting on alleged corruption within the ministry of the presidency.

Prosecutors claim that reports published in early July falsely alleged corruption in the recruitment of local government officers and made false claims regarding the Minister of the Presidency, Milly Babalanda. The charge sheet also references a report alleging that President Yoweri Museveni had ordered a corruption probe into the recruitment scheme.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for Asiteza’s immediate and unconditional release, stating that authorities are weaponizing judicial proceedings to punish reporting on public interest subjects. Asiteza has denied the charges and has been remanded to Luzira Prison until September 9.