Police: Bizonto videos had threats of attack on government

Bizonto comedy members arrested over videos which threatened attacks on government

Uganda Police has opened up on the arrest, from Radio Simba on July 24, of Bizonto Comedy members, over “promotion of sectarian tendencies.

Charles Mansio Twiine, the spokesperson of Uganda Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Directorate, confirmed that a joint security task team had arrested and detained five members of the Bizonto Comedy group.

Those detained are Simon Peter Ssabakaki (Akozonto akato), Julius Ssewanja (Ssabazonto), Marceli Mbabali (Giant zonto) and Gold Kimatono (Jjaja zonto).

Read: Bizonto Comedy members arrested in Radio Simba Raid

Twine also confirmed the arrest of Saul Muro Kamya aka Baryanengwe “whose video is so threatening and savagely fierce.”

“The five were arrested following a recording of selected videos that were uploaded and later shared on various social media platforms, unfortunately with the potential of causing hatred and unnecessary apprehension,” said Mansio.

He added that “some of the [Bizonto] videos had threats of attack on government, and individuals upon which we timely came in to avert the situation.”

Twine reminded Ugandans that rights and freedoms enshrined in the laws of Uganda had limits, emphasizing that police “shall not hesitate to take action against errant characters who disguise in the entertainment industry to cause grave threats to the security and stability of the country.”

“Whereas Uganda Police Force is cognisant, and indeed respect freedom of speech, the public should take note that such rights are not absolute especially when it is likely to lead to, OR prove imminent unlawful acts,” Twine noted.

“We strongly discourage such criminal acts and we call upon the general public to fathom our actions, and join us in the fight against such acts which may bleed to vicious crimes.”

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Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.