Musician arrested for 'disturbing' Yoweri Museveni's peace

Music producer Jonah Muhanguzi (left) and artiste David Mugema in the dock at Buganda Road Court on December 5, 2017. PHOTO | JULIET KIGONGO | DAILY MONITOR

What you need to know:

  • The prosecution alleges that Mr Mugema and Mr Muwanguzi repeatedly composed, recorded, produced and distributed a song in which they attacked and disturbed the peace of President Museveni.

  • The offence was allegedly committed between 2015 and 2017 at Salama Road in Makindye, Kampala.

A Ugandan musician and producer have been arrested and locked up in prison for allegedly insulting President Yoweri Museveni.

Mr David Mugema, 31, and his producer Jonah Muwanguzi, 23, were remanded at Luzira Prison in Jinja after appearing before a Kampala court on Tuesday.

SONG

They are accused of uttering offensive communication against Mr Museveni.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Mugema and Mr Muwanguzi repeatedly composed, recorded, produced and distributed a song in which they attacked and disturbed the peace of President Museveni.

The offence was allegedly committed between 2015 and 2017 at Salama Road in Makindye, Kampala.

Mr Muwanguzi was also charged with promoting offensive communication by aiding Mr Mugema in producing the song.

“It is very unfortunate that people were brought to court when it is not constituted but charges have to be read to them so that they know why they have been brought,” Presiding Grade One Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu said as she read out the charges.

BAIL

They two denied the charges.

Their lawyer Abdullah Kiwanuka applied for bail but the magistrate said she would handle the application on Wednesday.

She cited the absence of a prosecutor from the Uganda Communications commission for the postponement.

“Hearing this bail application without a prosecutor may occasion injustice since they will not be heard to tell us the state of the inquiries in the case,” Ms Kamasanyu said.