Gen. Otafiire distances self from journalist peddling fake news, disinformation about Muhoozi presidential bid
By Our Reporter,
MITOOMA
The office of the Ruhinda County member of parliament, also minister for internal affairs, Maj. Gen. Saverino Kahinda Otafiire has dismissed as false information deliberately spread to deceive the people a news report by western Uganda troubled online news blog, “MK Newslink” regarding the Minister’s comments on the first son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba presidential bid.
Over the weekend, the blog ran an article in which they indicated that minister Otafiire was warning against Muhoozi’s presidency on the people of western Uganda (Banyankore) and the greater Ankole kingdom.
“The minister of internal affairs Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has revealed to mknewslink.com that if Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba becomes the next president of Uganda, The Banyankole will suffer beyond any human level,” MK Newslink reported citing an interview with the minister at his home in Kashenshero town council Mitooma District, on Saturday March 10.
“Politics of dynasty in Uganda now are dangerous to Banyankole tribe because Uganda has many tribes and therefore the son of Museveni to succeed his father will be extremely dangerous to Ankole,”
MK Newslink further reported that Gen. Otafiire asked all banyankole to resist seriously the succession Gen. Muhoozi to his father president Museveni and regretted supporting the Igara East member of parliament, Hon. Micheal Mawanda, who has since become Gen. Muhoozi’s right-hand man and pledge to apologize to the electorates in Igara East.
“I will go back to Igara East and seek for forgiveness for supporting mp mawanda who is now sunk into politics of Gen. Muhoozi which are dangerous to society and Banyankole in particular,” the blog reported.
The minister’s communication’s office in the constituency however debunked this report saying that it is an orchestrated adversarial activity which the reporters (MK Newslink) employ to manipulate the public for their unknown goals.
Bobs Abemigisha, the head of media and communications at the office admitted that there was a meeting between the minister and the blog’s founder, Muhwezi Wilberforce Kasibante on the said date but denied an interview between the duo.
According to Abemigisha, the director MK Newslink had paid a visit to the minister at his home for assistance regarding his news blog which had been previously blocked for more than once.
“The minister did not engage in any interview with this journalist, it’s rather the director , Wilber Kasibante who had come to seek for assistance such that his website is not blocked down again. We therefore, refute and disclaim such imaginary composition of words and write ups made by this journalist,” the Minister’s office disclaimed.
The office disclosed that they are investigating circumstances surrounding this inaccurate reporting and apologized to the inconveniences caused by the reporter.
“We are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the release of inaccurate information through “MK Newslink.” We are committed to taking appropriate actions to rectify any potential harm caused by this misinformation and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”
