The news of the arrest of blogger Ibrahim Tusubira better known as Isma Olaxes has been making rounds on social media and local press, with many wondering why he would be arrested yet he is a self proclaimed NRM cadre.

Tusubira who is also the chairperson of Uganda Bloggers Association, a body uniting Youtubers and Facebook microbloggers in Uganda was picked up on Monday morning after days of being on the run from authorities.

Tusubiira was interrogated at the Police Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department before being arraigned in court and charged with Offensive Communication and criminal libel.

Why he was arrested

Isma and three television presenters working for Next Media Services; Isaac Kawalya Ssemulondo alias Kays, Bryan Kennedy Waako and Williams Makuliro are accused of repeatedly attacking an artiste Mr Emmanual Ssuuna better known as Omulangira Ssuuna on television.

According to the charge sheet, the accused committed the crime on August 27, 2021 while at Sanyuka Television, one of the TV stations belonging to Next Media Services.

The quartet allegedly talked about Mr Ssuuna’s family, his financial status accusing him of being tormented by evil spirits.

His co-accused Kays, Waako and Makuliro are already on remand after at Kitalya Prison until October 15 after they appeared in court on Friday last week.

Isma Olaxess was on the run and did not appear before court together with his co-accused, which prompted the court to issue criminal summons against him.

He was on Monday arraigned in a court session at Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court presided over by Doreen Karungi who read to him the charges before remanding him until tomorrow (Tuesday) when he’s expected to apply for bail.