It further clarified that while SH-ACU has been conducting an investigation in Mukono District, the subject of investigation neither relates to the mentioned journalists nor has it led to their arrest and detention.
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Following the arrest of two Mukono-based journalists on Saturday July 19, 2025, by two security operatives who introduced themselves as personnel from the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU), the anti-corruption unit has issued a press release distancing itself from the journalists’ arrest.
SH-ACU has instead expressed appreciation to the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and the entire media fraternity for their support in fighting corruption in the country.
The statement issued on 21st July 2025 read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement released by the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), dated Sunday, 20th July, 2025, regarding alleged detention by State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SH-ACU) of two journalists from Mukono, namely; Eric Yiga and Ivan Kimbowa, purportedly as result of a story they wrote about the Mukono Municipality Education Officer”.
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It further clarified that while SH-ACU has been conducting an investigation in Mukono District, the subject of investigation neither relates to the mentioned journalists nor has it led to their arrest and detention.
SH-ACU leadership invited UJA to present clear information of its claim, so that the matter is investigated to establish those responsible for the journalists arrest.
They further thanked the media fraternity for the support to the unit and contribution in fighting and exposing corruption and its perpetrators in the country.
Earlier on Sunday, Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), a body governing journalists in Uganda issued a statement concerning the continued detention of two journalists, Eric Yiga of Salt TV and Ivan Kimbowa of Uganda Radio Network, where the association Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda exposed the two scribes’ arrest on 19th July, and whisked to Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) by men claiming to be operatives of the SH-ACU.
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He said they were arrested in connection to the story recently published about the arrest of Mukono Education Officer, Faridah Nassolo and her husband with regard to the ongoing operations and investigations associated with the jobs-for-sale scandal allegedly condoned by Mukono District Service Commission.
“Continued detention of these journalists is a serious concern to us as it poses adverse effects on the press freedom landscape in this country; the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) therefore, demands for their immediate and unconditional release from detention,” said Kirunda in his press release.
Kirunda said that they had instructed their legal team to explore ways of ensuring that those journalists regain their freedom.
By press time, the journalists are still under detention at Jinja Road Police Station in Kampala.
Over two weeks back, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit mounted an operation in Mukono district following the widespread allegations of corruption in the operations of the District Service Commission (DSC) recruitment exercises.
As a result, the DSC chairperson, Eng. Godfrey Kisuule Kibuuka and Mukono District Council Speaker Betty Hope Nakasi were arrested, detained at Mukono Police Station and later transferred to CPS in Kampala.
Other suspects arrested include; Dr. Saad Wataba of Lugazi Municipality, Ronald Mugerwa Ssaku and other unidentified people. They were all released on police bond, pending investigations.