There was drama in Munyonyo in Kampala on January 07 as singer Ronald Mayinja grabbed The Observer journalist Yudaya Nangonzi’s mobile phone to delete a recording of an interview in which he talked of his deals with President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni and the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Previously associated with singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s People Power pressure group, Mayinja met Museveni at Kisozi in Gomba District.
Museveni gave Mayinja money and a vehicle, reportedly to help in the operations of Peace for All, All for Peace organization.
Nangonzi’s employer says Mayinja wanted the recording detailing some sensitive information deleted because it would cause his problems.
With the reporter unwilling to surrender the phone which contained the recording, Mayinja locked his house and claimed Nangonzi had trespassed to take photos of his children who had no clothes on.
“After a two-hour interview at his home in Munyonyo, musician Ronald Mayinja has made off with our reporter Yudaya Nangozi’s mobile phone. Mayinja first demanded that the audio recording be deleted, saying it was going to land him in trouble with the state,” The Observer said in a statement.
“He took off and temporarily locked our reporter in his home, falsely claiming she’d trespassed into his home – never mind that he voluntarily agreed to the interview, directed our reporter into the home, sat and talked for 2 hours and 30 minutes. He later changed his accusations, again falsely, claiming our reporter had taken photos of his na*ed children.”
Mayinja would later claim he had “permanently destroyed the old one together with its SD card and SIM card,” and would only buy Nangonzi another phone.
The reporter has since filed a case of theft at Salama Road Police Station recorded under SD: REF 29/7/1/2021.
Mayinja was expected at the police station on January 08.
