KTN’s Ugandan journalist held at Kasese Police Station
KTN journalist Joy Doreen Biira, who was arrested on Sunday evening, is being held at the Kasese Police Station.
According to media reports in Uganda, police are said to be interrogating her on “allegations” she took and shared photos of events of the ongoing clashes in Kasese.
Nairobi News is yet to independently verify if the said allegation is a crime under Ugandan law.
Ms Biira was arrested on Sunday evening by the Ugandan army and was still in custody by 11am East African time on Monday.
She was picked up moments after uploading pictures of her home area’s kingdom’s palace burning.
Pictures shared on social media show the celebrated media personality walking barefoot in a filthy Ugandan police cell under heavy protection.
GRANTED BAIL
Ugandan Police spokesman, Fred Kaweesi, said Ms Biira had been granted bail and was due to be released.
“Doreen will be released in an hour’s time. She has been granted bail. She is out of the police cell. Nobody has stopped her from reporting. Standard operating procedures, a crime scene is protected. She was not careful to abide by the standard operating procedure. She crossed the red line,” the police boss said.
Biira has been caught up in the violent confrontation between the Ugandan government and local militia, which has left 60 people, including 14 police officers dead.
The journalist is said to have visited her home for her traditional wedding when the violence broke out.
The bone of contention according to reports, is calls for “independence” by a section of the Kasese locals.
