Joy Doreen Biira released from police custody

Joy Doreen Biira is received by relatives following her release from Kasese police station, Uganda. (Photo: Courtesy)

Uganda: Police have released KTN news anchor and reporter Joy Doreen Biira who had been arrested on Sunday for allegedly taking photos and posting on social media comments about the Sunday mass killings in Kasese.

Joy, who had been taken in alongside her fiancé and three others, were released Monday evening on a police bond.

The police charged the five with abetting terrorism and are required to report to the same police station on December 8.

The King of Rwenzururu Charles Mumbere had also been arrested over claims that he was supporting the militia that fought against the government forces . About 55 people were killed during the massacre that led to the arrest of several other journalists in Uganda.

Police had earlier conducted a searched in the house where Joy was staying. She had been in her home district, Kasese, for her traditional wedding ceremony that took place Saturday, a day before the deadly clashes.

Following the arrest, police claimed that she had trespassed an area that had been cordoned off at the palace of Rwenzururu king, an allegation that her family denied.

The Law Society of Uganda condemned the arrests and had called for the unconditional release of Joy and all other arrested journalists.

LSU demanded "that a commission of inquiry involving both sides of the conflict, the International Community and Human Rights players as observers be set up to investigate the cause of the said conflicts and propose permanent solutions to state conflicts".

The deadly clashes have raised uproar both locally and in the international community.