Lawyer Eron Kiiza has accused police of targeting journalists after the re-arrest of Mukose Arnold Anthony, the Head of Programmes at Alternative Digitalk, who had returned to seek the release of personal property seized during an earlier arrest.
Kiiza said the journalist was detained again while attempting to recover his national identity card, passport, laptop, modem and two smart watches confiscated from his home in March 2026.
According to the lawyer, the earlier case against Mukose had been dismissed by the Law Development Centre (LDC) Court for want of prosecution, raising questions about the basis for reopening the matter.
Kiiza described the latest arrest as intimidation and alleged that authorities were using the police and courts to punish journalists critical of the government.
The lawyer traced Mukose's troubles to March 29, 2026, when he was allegedly abducted by plainclothes operatives outside Metro FM after completing a live broadcast on a Constitutional Court ruling that nullified provisions of the Computer Misuse Act and struck down criminal defamation.
Mukose had been a petitioner in the constitutional case, Kiiza said. He alleged that the journalist was held incommunicado for three days before being charged under the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Licensing Regulations.
The charges reportedly included broadcasting fake news and sending a false distress signal concerning First Lady Janet Museveni.
Kiiza further claimed that the prosecution proceeded despite an earlier directive by the Attorney General to stop arrests and prosecutions under the nullified provisions of the Computer Misuse Act.
Mukose was remanded to Luzira Prison, where he spent more than five weeks before being granted bail. Kiiza said the bail terms required Shs 5 million in cash, with sureties bonded at Shs 50 million each.
The case subsequently faced repeated adjournments before the court dismissed it after the prosecution failed to proceed, according to the lawyer.
Kiiza also cited a 2022 police raid on Alternative Digitalk's offices, during which two staff members were charged with offensive communication under provisions of the Computer Misuse Act that were later struck down by the courts.
He argued that the latest arrest raises concerns about press freedom and the treatment of independent digital media in Uganda.
Citing Article 29(1)(a) of Uganda's Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and the press, Kiiza called for Mukose's immediate release and the return of his seized belongings.
He urged authorities to stop using criminal proceedings against journalists and ensure that court decisions are respected.