KAMPALA, Uganda, May 30 (UPI) -- The internal affairs minister in Uganda Thursday ordered police to vacate the Daily Monitor newspaper offices, which had been occupied for more than a week.
Internal Affairs Minister Hillary Onek said the company that publishes the Daily Monitor should resume operations after it was closed due to a police search May 20, the Monitor reported.
Earlier in the month, the Criminal Investigation Department interrogated writers of stories in the newspaper that were based on an alleged letter by the coordinator of intelligence services, Gen. David Sejusa.
In the letter, Sejusa called for an investigation into reports that orders were given to kill anyone who stated opposition to Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni. The president is apparently grooming his son to be his successor.
Police shut the Monitor's offices and those of its sister radio stations, KFM and Dembe FM, after journalists refused to give up information about their sources.
A statement from the government Thursday said it had reason to investigate the letter because it was determined the director general, Internal Security Organization and other officers were copied on the letter, but never received it. The newspaper was apparently the only entity in possession of the letter.
A meeting between Internal Affairs Ministry officials, representatives from the newspaper and other government officials Sunday led to the reopening of the offices, the statement said. Media Nation Group, the company that publishes the newspaper, said it regretted the story led to the closure of the paper and promised to more thoroughly fact check its sources.
