May 10, 2021 The Bizonto comedians in the dock
Buganda Road Magistrate s court has given one month to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to complete its investigations into charges of sectarianism preferred against Bizonto comedians.
The comedians Julius Sserwanja aka Kidomoole, Peter Sabakaaki (Omuzinyuuzi), Mbabaali Maliseeri (Uncle Luyuguumo), and Gold Ki Matono, aka Opeto were arrested on March 5, 2021, in relation to a satirical skit which, according to the government was used to promote sectarianism.
For the same charges, they appeared before Grade one magistrate Asuman Muhumuza today morning, for an update on the status of investigations into the charges against them. But the state attorney Patricia Cingtho told court that she needed about three weeks to finalize the inquiries and be able to start the trial.
Uganda hostile to creatives
Friday April 09 2021
Summary
Members of the Bizonto Comedy group were detained for four days and released on condition. Their equipment, phones and uniforms, are also yet to be returned.
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Ugandan comedians Marcelo Mbabaali, Peter Sssaabakaaki (Omuzinyuuzi), Gold Ki Matono, aka Opeto, and Julius Sserwanja, aka Kidomoole of the Bizonto group were detained on July 24, 2020 for a skit that was critical of the appointment of public officials solely based on their ethnic identity.
In the skit, they argued that President Yoweri Museveni and several government officials in leading institutions of managing detentions, elections, law enforcement and finance all came from the same region in western Uganda.
Bizonto comedians granted bail Bizonto comedians in court
Local comedians commonly known by their stage name as Bizonto have been granted bail, hours after they were arrested from Radio Simba premises today morning.
They were re-arrested on Friday on charges of promoting sectarianism and offensive communication. The three, Julius Sserwanja is also known as Kidomoole, Mbabaali Maliseeri (Uncle Luyuguumo), and Gold Ki Matono, also known as Opeto and Peter Sssaabakaaki (Omuzinyuuzi) were arrested from Radio Simba over a satirical skit which, according to the government was used to promote sectarianism. Their counterpart was not found at the station at the time of their arrest.
March 5, 2021 FILE Bizonto comedians
Popular radio and social media comedians, Bizonto have been re-arrested on charges of promoting sectarianism and offensive communication.
Julius Sserwanja also known as Kidomoole, Mbabaali Maliseeri (Uncle Luyuguumo), and Gold Ki Matono, also known as Opeto were arrested today from Radio Simba after posting another satirical skit which, according to the government was used to promote sectarianism. Their counterpart Sssaabakaaki Peter (Omuzinyuuzi) was not found at the station at the time of their arrest.
According to Sserwanja, the group leader, police told them they were arrested for allegedly skipping police bond following their earlier arrest last year. He says they are shocked by the re-arrest because they have been reporting to Kibuli CID headquarters in Kibuli during the prescribed times.
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