The Kawempe Grade One magistrate Agumaasiimwe Damalie, on Friday barred the media from using cameras and mobile phones during proceedings involving 21 National Unity Platform (NUP) members facing illegal drilling charges.
According to Magistrate Agumaasiimwe, the ruling to ban the video and audio recording, photography and live streaming of the trial stems from the media allegedly misrepresenting what happens in court, further noting that not everything that happens in court must be reported.
“It translates to an automatic right to convert the courtroom into a live broadcast studio, it is not a live studio, it’s a courtroom” she said.
The ban by her worship Agumaasiimwe, followed an earlier prosecution’s request to regulate media coverage of the trial alleging that it intimidated their witnesses.
Journalists intending to attend the court hearing are now required to only listen and take notes in their note books since the case is of public interest.
However the media ban received backlash from both the defense lawyers and prisoners who protested the media ban, vowing not to return to the court for hearing without the presence of media in the courtroom.
While speaking during the hearing, NUP’s deputy spokesperson, Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro expressed dismay at the courts decisions to bar media from capturing footage and recording the ongoing trial.
“For seven months, we have requested for drugs, it has failed, when we are sick, we are brought here. When you are disposed, you are not here, we are human beings in the same category like you are”
He added, “This matter arises from the media, it does not arise from actuality, people being there. It is from the media. Now, we are having a judgement without clarity, and you are sending us back to the gallows with a judgement without clarity”.
The NUP members led by Mufumbiro while exiting the courtroom after being denied bail once again, shouted in unison; “We will not be heard in darkness, We will not be heard in darkness, We will not be heard in darkness”.
Following the ruling, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and NUP spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi, noted that they will challenge the ruling to ensure justice doesn’t die in darkness, the same way democracy dies in darkness if the media is banned from covering the trial.
“This is the court case of “unlawful drilling” involving Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, Eddy Mutwe, Tasi Calvin (BobiGiant), Archilleo Kivumbi, Olivia Lutaaya, Doreen Kaija, among others. Just like democracy dies in darkness, justice also dies in darkness. We intend to further challenge this court ruling, because in our view there is nothing secretive about this matter” he said.
According to the prosecution, on February 12, 2025, the suspects, along with others still at large, allegedly participated in a meeting at the NUP offices in Makerere-Kavule.
The meeting is said to have involved military-style drills, movements, and formations conducted without authorization, contrary to Section 45(1)(b) of the Penal Code Act.
Prosecutors contend that the gathering at Kavule was not a political meeting, but rather an illegal paramilitary training session.
