Journalists remanded over Malole murder

The Jinja Grade One Magistrate Ochieng Yafesi, has remanded two journalists as suspects in the murder of Jinja businessman Shaban Malole Batabaire to Kirinya until 28th July 2022

The journalists are; Isabirye Denis ‘Papiq’ of Baba FM and Mutyaba Ivan of Busoga one FM. They have been charged with murder and connivance to commit murder.

Jackie Nabatanzi of Kiira FM was the first journalist to be arrested over the same matter last month but was released on bail after some days!

The late Shaban Malole was shot dead on Saturday, 14th May 22 at his home in Buweera, Jinja District by unknown assailants who were traveling on a motorcycle!

The deceased was at the centre of a 900-acre family land wrangle belonging to the estate of his late father, Hajj Sulaiman Malole at Kituba Village, Kisozi Sub-county, Kamuli District.

Until his death, Malole was in support of his family’s efforts to lease the land to an investor for 40 years to construct a sugar factory, a move his siblings reportedly said was aimed at locking them out of their father’s estate.

The 2 journalists have been added on to the already remanded list of people like Councilor Abbey Mwase, Zaina Naiswike, Muhammad Mayende, Musana Mansoor and Saida Malole and are all set to appear in the Magistrate Court on 28th July 22 for mentioning before it’s sent to a higher court that has the jurisidiction of giving bail.

Ms Jackie Nabatanzi was arrested last month as she covered the Uganda National Agricultural Education Show at Jinja Showground, and immediately taken into custody at Nalufenya Police Station where she was interrogated about the murder of Malole.

Ms Nabatanzi’s arrest came after the Jinja businessman, Shaban Malole,  who was on the night of May 14 shot dead by unknown assailants who were travelling on a motorcycle. Investigations are still going on.