Red Pepper Online Publications hereby issues this unequivocal and unconditional apology to Mr. Conrad K. Nkutu, Ms. Sophie Nkuutu and Mr. Martin Kintu over the publication of the articles titled:
“Blood, billions & betrayal! Ex Minister Nkutu family Torn Apart in Shock Property War as Siblings Conrad, Sophie & Martin Gang Up Against Last Born, Accused of Hatching Butabika Plot Over Dead Mother’s USD10M Empire”
And
“NKUTU FAMILY WAR! Court Finally Speaks, Hands WILL Executors Power Over Multibillion Estate as Youngest Son Questions Rush”
The articles were published on the Red Pepper online platform in relation to the dispute concerning the estate of the late Christine Namubiru Nkuutu.
Following a complaint by the above-named complainants, the Uganda Communications Commission considered the publication and found that Red Pepper had breached provisions of the Uganda Communications Act and the applicable Uganda Communications Regulations.
In particular, the Commission found that although the underlying dispute concerning the estate could constitute a matter of legitimate public interest, Red Pepper did not sufficiently demonstrate that the particular private and family information concerning the complainants disclosed in the article served a legitimate public interest.
The Commission further found that Red Pepper failed to seek comments from the complainants before publication in circumstances involving serious and contested personal allegations. It held that this failure deprived the complainants of an opportunity to respond to and clarify the allegations concerning them and contributed to the publication failing to meet the required standards of accuracy, verification, balance and impartiality.
The Commission also found that the publication went beyond what was demonstrably necessary to inform the public about the underlying estate dispute and unjustifiably intruded into the complainants’ private and family life.
We therefore acknowledge and accept the findings of the Uganda Communications Commission regarding the publication.
Red Pepper acknowledges that the articles were a publication riddled with unverified information and did not meet the standards of responsible journalism required under the applicable law and professional standards.
We accordingly retract the articles in their entirety and withdraw the allegations and information contained in the publication.
We further confirm that the articles have been pulled down from the Red Pepper online platforms and, in accordance with the Commission’s directive, steps are being taken to ensure that the same content is removed from other online platforms to which it was shared.
This apology is issued without qualification or condition and in compliance with the decision and directives of the Uganda Communications Commission.
Red Pepper remains committed to responsible journalism, including proper verification of information, accuracy, fairness, balance, impartiality and respect for individual privacy.
We have also taken note of the Commission’s directive requiring sufficient editorial measures to ensure that stories are properly verified and moderated by editors before publication.
Management.
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