Convicted Journalist Ronald Ssembusi Dead
Ronald Ssembusi in yellow shirt with his lawyer Catherine Anite and Sadab Kitatta his surety recently.
Ronald Ssembusi, a Journalist recently convicted by Court in Kalangala for defamation is dead.
The reporter who was until recently attached to Central Broadcasting Services, died this morning at Masaka Regional referral Hospital. He had been diagnosed with Tuberculosis, meningitis and Malaria.
Ssembusi was picked from his one-room rented house in Nyendo on December 24th and rushed to Masaka Hospital in critical condition.
Kizito Byekwaso, the deceased’s brother confirmed the sad development and added that his situation had worsened over the last three days. He complained of back-pain and severe headache.
His woes started in November, 2014 when Daniel Kikoola, the former Kalangala LC 5 chairperson dragged him to court for defamation. Ssembusi had filed a story, aired on CBS Radio on November 17th implicating Kikoola in the theft of more than 80 solar panels meant to power the water plant supplying Kalangala town council.
He was subsequently convicted by Samuel Twakyire, the Kalangala Grade One Magistrate and sentenced to a fine of Ugx 1 Million.
Following the conviction, Ssembusi lost employment with his employer CBS who accused him of failing to uphold significant principles of journalistic professionalism. Key among them was failing to adhere to the need to balance news stories.
Godfrey Male Busulwa, the CBS Chief News Editor said that Ssembusi was suspended for repeating the same mistake, which landed in him in court.
However, on Wednesday, Ronald Ssembusi said that his health situation was worsened by the loss of employment since he did not have any source of income at the time.
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