Detained BBC journalists encouraged to continue program in Uganda
- Country:
- Uganda
Ugandan police released three journalists on Friday who were working for the British Broadcasting Corporation, after detaining them overnight on suspicion of illegally possessing government prescription drugs. The three -- two Ugandans and a Kenyan -- were among a total of five people arrested in the incident, the others being the wife of a local journalist working with them and a driver.
Police freed the five after establishing that the three journalists were conducting a legitimate investigation into the illegal sale of government drugs by officials. "It is clear that their motive was to show how easy it was to buy government drugs," a police statement said. "We do encourage them to continue with their documentary programme and achieve their intended objective of exposing their targets, to help prevent such occurrences in future."
Police detained the five on Thursday after seizing fourteen boxes of prescription tablets, vaccines and other material. Uganda's crippled health sector has frequently been hit by protests over dilapidated government hospitals, the widespread theft of government drugs and poor pay for health workers. Police said they were working with the public prosecutor to establish whether the journalists broke any laws during their investigations.
(With inputs from agencies.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- International Federation of Journalists
- Working Journalists Day
- The Police
- The Others
- The Lives of Others
- Boogiepop and Others
- Ugandan shilling
- The Wife
- The Good Wife
- Wife Swap
- Basketball Official
- Kenyan shilling
- journalists
- government prescription drugs
- police
- others
- Ugandan
- British Broadcasting Corporation
- journalist
ALSO READ
Biden and First Lady Extend Warm Welcome to Japanese PM and his Wife at the White House
North East Delhi Riots 2020: Umar Khalid amplified his narrative as part of conspiracy, say police opposing his bail plea
North East Delhi Riots 2020: Umar Khalid amplified his narrative as part of conspiracy, say police opposing his bail plea
NSA Asserts that Nationhood is Rooted in Shared History and Future Vision among People
Hong Kong police say a building fire has killed at least four people and injured 12, reports AP.