The police Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has today grilled top Red Pepper editors over stories they published, claiming that that the Inspector General of Police Gen Kale Kayihura had been rushed to India in critical condition for treatment.
The Ugandan has obtained a letter in which the police required Red Pepper bosses to explain their source of information and why they were spreading information that disturbed the peace and privacy of their boss, Gen Kale Kayihura.
IGP Kayihura was allegedly disturbed by stories of his sickness
The Red Pepper bosses led by the managing director were required to explain the intention and origin of stories related the sickness of Gen Kayihura.
The letter singled out a story in which the newspaper reported in the headline that “Kayihura rushed to India”
According to the summons signed by Isaac Oketcho on behalf of the Director of Criminal Investigations, the ‘disturbing’ stories were published between June 12 and June 15.
According to the police letter, the Red Pepper published the stories with “intent to disturb the peace, quiet and privacy of the said General Kale Kayihura, the IGP,” reads part of the letter.
It is not clear whether the Red Pepper bosses have appeared before the police for interrogation since the letter which had been kept a secret required the Red Pepper team to appear on June 20.
The background
Rumours of Gen Kayihura’s sickness started when he missed attending the State of the Nation Address and the Heroes day, prompting Ugandans to speculate.
Just last weekend pictures of Gen Kayihura emerged on social media with police sources indicating that Gen Kayihura together with the Ugandan ambassador to Turkey had just held a meeting with Turkish officials in Ankara-Turkey.
The pictures were however doubted by keen observers since a logo of Sheraton that appeared in one of the pictures suggested that the police boss released old pictures.
Earlier on, police spokesperson had addressed a press conference in which he warned Red Pepper to stop publishing stories alleging that Gen Kayihura was sick or risk a legal battle.
Kasingye described the originators of the Kayihura sickness story as people with fertile imaginations.