By KT Reporter
After solving his problems with UCC, jailed journalist Dean Lubowa Saava also made peace with complainants in other criminal cases including deputy IGG Ann Muhairwe. On UCC, which had accused and charged him with illegal broadcasting without the regulator’s license, Saava accepted guilt, apologized and got his sentence of 4m fine.
He was spared the burden of custodial sentence of having to continue being in Luzira because he had already been on remand for more than 100 days since last August and had also showed remorse and said he was sorry for his mistakes.
This meant that once he pays the fine of 4m that was all. He would be free to go back home and be with his family. Good enough, his family members have already paid the 4m, which means on the UCC case, he is now a free man. But even after solving the UCC problem, he wouldn’t go home because he had other pending cases.
What remained pending was the other criminal case of criminal defamation in Makindye chief magistrates court where Muhairwe was one of the complainants. This case was being prosecuted by the DPP through senior prosecutor Richard Birivumbuka. The DPP kept saying he was ready to produce evidence and witnesses and secure Saava’s conviction.
The good news is that even on this DPP case, Saava asked for the plea bargaining deal which involved him apologizing to the complainants and promising never to defame their good names again.
He accepted that he was misled into putting the videos he put about them and promised to delete all the bad videos and to put out public notices apologizing for his defamatory videos. He was also required to name people or sources who gave him the negative stories in return for his freedom.
This means that on Thursday February 26th 2026, Saava’s problems can come to an end for as long as the chief magistrate agrees with the plea bargain deal reached between him and his accusers. The magistrate is supposed to officially convict and sentence him.
The Thursday sentencing in the Makindye chief magistrates court is likely to be light since the accused person has been remorseful and made peace with his complainants. This simply means Saava may walk out a free man this very week if all goes well.
He has made it clear to prosecutors and his accusers in the criminal justice system that he has learnt from his mistakes and he is more than ready to become a reformed person who will operate within the limits of the law at all times. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com.
