The Law Development Centre (LDC) Chief Magistrate’s Court has charged DigiTalk Media journalist Arnold Anthony Mukose, with two counts of publication and transmission of false information about First lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni.
On Wednesday, prosecution told court that between January 26 and March 29, 2026, Mukose knowingly and unlawfully published false information on an online platform identified as Alternative Digitalk Channel, alleging that First Lady Janet Museveni was dead, which is contrary to Regulation 110 (C) of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) licensing Regulations Act 2019.
Mukose has also been charged with “sending false distress signals” that the First Lady, Janet Museveni was dead, contrary to section 82 of the Uganda Communications Act, Cap 103.
Prosecution further noted that other suspects linked to the alleged offence remain at large.
However Mukose has denied the charges and remanded to Luzira prison until April 14th when the cade will come up for mention.
Mukose was allegedly abducted by security operatives from the Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JATT) at around 1pm outside Metro FM, after a radio show on the Court’s nullification of sections of the Computer Misuse Act.
According to eyewitness account, Mukose was bundled into a grey Toyota Noah by the security personnel, the same security personnel are said to have searched his home in Lukuli Nanganda before detaining him at Old Kampala Police Division.
A number of human rights organisations and media rights groups have since condemned his arrest including the Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) President Ms Evelyne Nalule, who noted that in case the Mukose had committed any crime then he should have been summoned using proper channels for police statement recording and if need be, produced in court to answer any preferred charges.
