Ashburg Kato
Buganda Road Court has remanded blogger Ashiraf Kato alias Ashburg Kato, the founder of Ghetto TV, an online television station. Ashburg is accused of broadcasting pornographic pictures contrary to Section 13(1) and (2) of the Anti-Pornographic Act, 2014.
He appeared on Friday before the new Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Mariam Ayo. Prosecution alleges that on May 24, 2018, Kato, a resident of Makindye Stella Zone broadcasted nude pictures of Lillian Rukundo, a mass communication student at the Uganda Christian University in Mukono on Ghetto TV.
Prosecution also alleges that on May 25, 2018, the accused together with Rukundo posted Rukundo’s nudes with intentions of persuading the viewers sexually, which is illegal in Ugandan laws. Kato pleaded not guilty to the charges and applied for bail on grounds that he spent more than ten days in police cells, where he was tortured.
However, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Mariam Ayo rejected the bail application, saying she couldn’t release him without knowing the whereabouts his co-accused, Rukundo. She remanded Kato to Luzira prisons until July 16, 2018 when he will return to court for the mention of his case.
READ: Blogger Ashburg Kato refuses to leave jail as Bryan White case takes new turn
Kato was picked up together with Rukundo and were locked up at Katwe Police Station. Rukundo was released on police bond while Kato spent about ten days in the cells at Kampala CPS and Katwe Police Station.
Bryan White (L) and Ashburg Kato (R). COURTESY PHOTO
The Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, says Rukundo will also appear in court on Monday to answer for the same charges. He however, couldn’t explain why she was released on police while Kato was locked up.
It was, however, initially reported that Kato was arrested last week on orders of Bryan White after he aired Bryan White’s dirty laundry on Ghetto TV.
The blogger has for over three months been running an investigative project he named Bryan White Kawedemu. On his Open Roof show, he has been calling up close friends, allies and an alleged mistress to Bryan White.
The sources interviewed on the show have revealed a lot of information that links Bryan White to drug deals, infidelity and lying about his wealth.
In a statement issued by Ghetto TV at the end of last week, it was revealed that Bryan White had reportedly connived with police officers to have Bryan White arrested.
However, the police officers changed their statements saying that his arrest was ordered by Minister of Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo.
Kyadondo East Member of Parliament Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, alias Bobi Wine visited Kato earlier this week.
