Journalists arrested for Museveni coup plot in Rwanda story

Eight employees allied to Pepper Publications Group in Uganda were on Tuesday arrested for a story claiming Uganda President, Yoweri Museveni, was planning a coup against Rwandan President, Paul Kagame.

The five directors and three editors were reportedly, first held at the publication’s offices for close to eight hours before being taken to Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja.

The story titled, “M7 plotting to overthrow Kagame – Rwanda”, was declared to have “grave implications on national and regional security and stability.”

The arrested directors are; Richard Tusiime (CEO), Patrick Mugumya (CPO), Arinaitwe Rugyendo (CMO), James Mujuni (CCO) and Johnson Musinguzi Byarabaha (CFO), whereas the editors are Ben Byarabaha (Managing Editor), Richard Kintu (News Editor) and Tumusiime Francis Tinywana (Bwino Newspaper Editor who doubles as General Manager).

The eight also had their phones, computers and gadgets confiscated, according to Pepper Publication Group’s Lawyer, Dickens Byamukama.