Uganda’s leading independent newspaper, The Monitor, was back in circulation on Friday after a week-long closure by the government because it reported that a military helicopter had been shot down by rebels fighting the government in the northern part of the country.
The government claimed the report was false and the paper’s managing editor, Charles Onyango Obbo, its deputy news editor, Wanyama Wangah, and the author of the article, Frank Nyakairu, are to be prosecuted for publishing false news and material prejudicial to state security. They denied the charges and were released on bail.
The newspaper offices were reopened by the government after an apology was agreed upon and Friday’s edition carried a front page apology for the article that appeared on October 10.
”Before and after the publication, the government and UPDF (army) informed us that no UPDF helicopter was shot down or crashed. We shall always try to ensure that reports carried in our publications will be subjected to research and verification,” the English-language paper said.
The editors, who previously said they stood by the original story, have said they cannot comment because the case is before the courts. The newspaper has an independent editorial policy and it publishes daring reports on the views of the political opposition and the conduct of the army fighting the 15-year long rebellion in northern Uganda.
”We will continue with our independent editorial policy,” said Onyango Obbo on Friday. – Sapa-DPA