Sembabule journalist secures bail amid controversial bishopric allegations
Journalist Jonan Bangirana Jjumba (white shirt) appears in court on February 18, 2025 for his bail application hearing at Sembabule Grade One Magistrate's Court. PHOTO/COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The controversy surrounding his arrest relates to a letter alleging that a senior priest, who was a candidate for the bishopric of West Buganda Diocese, fathered a child with a local resident.
Jonan Bangirana Jjumba, a 51-year-old freelance journalist from Sembabule, has been granted bail by a court in the district after being remanded last week on charges of public nuisance.
Jjumba’s bail was secured on medical grounds after he claimed to be suffering from a serious illness that required urgent treatment outside of Sembabule Prison.
Jjumba, who has been diagnosed with diabetes, had previously received medical care at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital and other private health facilities.
His son, Benjamin Mugabe, explained that “Jjumba’s condition had worsened since his arrest due to missed treatments.”
Mugabe added that the magistrate accepted their plea for bail due to the severity of Jjumba's health issues.
In a bail application last week, Jjumba had presented six sureties, but in the latest hearing, he was represented by two sureties- Joseph Ntulume, a teacher and head of laity in Ntuusi Parish, and Farook Nsubuga, a local resident.
Magistrate Raymond Jjagwe granted Jjumba a non-cash bail of Shs1.5 million, with each of the sureties bonded for Shs2 million.
The controversy surrounding Jjumba's arrest relates to a letter dated January 20, 2025, alleging that a senior Anglican priest, who was a candidate for the bishopric of West Buganda Diocese, fathered a child with a local resident, Naume Namakula.
The letter claims the child died in 2016 due to the priest's negligence.
However, Namakula has denied writing the letter and disowned the claims.
Police investigations are ongoing, with the Masaka Regional Criminal Investigations boss, Bosco Gume, instructing detectives to recover the original document and obtain statements from relevant individuals.
Jjumba’s bail comes amid the completion of the selection process for the new bishop of West Buganda Diocese.
Rev Canon Gaster Nsereko has been chosen to replace the outgoing Bishop Henry Katumba Tamale and is set to be officially installed on March 30, 2025.
