I am writing to express my great concern about the recent arrest of three Ugandan journalists: Andrew Mwenda, Odobo Bichachi, and John Njorog. I know one of them and he is a man of great integrity and a friend and asset to Uganda. I urge you to urge your government to release those men and to avoid any further embarrassment of the government of Uganda.

A nation whose government cannot tolerate criticism is a nation that will know only poverty and stagnation. A free press is an essential condition for the progress of a nation in every respect: economic, educational, scientific, political, and social.

I hope that you will urge your government to correct this terrible mistake.