By Kabuye Ronald
The Law Development Centre (LDC) Grade One Magistrate’s Court has issued witness summons to an investigating officer and forensic experts in the case in which journalist and press freedom activist Arnold Anthony Mukose is accused of broadcasting false news and sending false distress signals by allegedly claiming that First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni was dead.
Grade One Magistrate Joanita Muwanika issued the summons on Tuesday after the witnesses failed to appear in court to testify.
The development followed the court’s admission of a search certificate presented by a prosecution witness, Detective D/AIP David Ilukut, who told court that he has served in the police force for more than 15 years, including 11 years in the investigations department.
Testifying before court, Ilukut said he established through WhatsApp messages allegedly accessed using other people’s phones that Mukose had recorded videos and audio clips claiming that the First Lady was dead.
He told court that although he did not have a court order authorising the search, he recovered several items, including a National Identity Card, an East African Passport, an MTN modem, a black Dell laptop and a small mobile phone without a battery or cover.
Ilukut said he documented the recovered items in a search certificate, which was subsequently signed by Mukose, his lawyer Kato Tumusiime, local leaders, neighbours and the detective himself.
He added that the items were later handed over to the then Officer in Charge of the Criminal Investigations Department (OC CID), ASP Sarah Kataike, for further guidance and scrutiny.
However, during cross-examination by defence lawyers Kato Tumusiime and Simon Peter Esomu, Ilukut admitted that he had not recorded the specifications of the recovered electronic gadgets, except those of the National Identity Card and passport.
The case has a history of arrests and court proceedings dating back to March this year.
On March 29, 2026, Mukose was allegedly abducted by security operatives and remained missing for several days before being produced before the LDC Grade One Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Ivan Maloba, on April 1, 2026.
He was granted Shs5 million cash bail on May 5, 2026, but the case was dismissed on August 24, 2026, for want of prosecution.
However, the case was reinstated on October 12, 2026, after Mukose went to Old Kampala Police Station to reclaim his property, including items allegedly recovered during his earlier arrest.
He was reportedly informed that the case had been re-sanctioned before being re-arrested and charged with the same offences.
Mukose was subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison before being released on Shs1 million cash bail.
Magistrate Muwanika adjourned the matter to December 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, when the summoned investigating officer and forensic experts are expected to appear and testify.
