By John Okello Lapok
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has clarified that contrary to online media reports that she ordered for the arrest of Mukono-based scribe Mwesigwa, she has not made any such a directive.
She however, says whereas the media is free to report, it is also important to always cross-check facts before publishing what she called misleading information.
“I have not asked anyone to arrest that journalist but what I said was that his information was not what is on the ground. The Oxygen Plant he talked of in Kayunga is there. Now I wonder where he got that information he told the President! He told lies to the President, the people Kayunga, the country and even me! That’s why he should come out publically and apologize for telling falsehoods” she said.
According the Premier, the timing of the allegation was suspect as it came at a time when the NRM had just unveiled it’s presidential candidate for his campaigns the reason the reporter should shade more light to see if he was not influenced.
“We’re making steady progress in that Kayunga sector and now you’re talking of Uganda changing [leadership?], The road to Ggaliraaya they have started constructing it, and you say we change? From here to Nakasongola, the bridge had failed, we worked on it, and you say we change? Unfortunately, they [opponents] also use these very facilities Museveni has worked upon! Why don’t you tell them the truth? Look at the Kayunga hospital, what is lacking there? Its those opposition who pump such falsehoods in Journalists” she said.
She went on ‘You see a journalist standing before the president and deceived him that Oxygen Plant in Kayunga hospital isn’t working! Really? Imagine when we have just unveiled our president, he’s brand new, and someone claims the Oxygen plant isn’t working. I request the police to pick a statement from this reporter so that he withdraws what he said, apologise to the President, the country and Me. News is good, we love it, but if they report falsehoods, it turns into a different thing” she said.
The PM said she has not ordered the arrest of the reporter. She, however, said since he told what she called lies to the Head of State and the country; he should be given an official platform to withdraw his allegations.
This follows a report on online media platforms in which Independent Journalists Association [INDOJA] threatened to pursue the Premier in court for allegedly threatening to arrest journalist Mwesigwa. The reporter allegedly made the statements to the President, prompting him to order Nabbanja to undertake a fact-finding tour of the health facilities in question.
