KAMPALA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan police on Friday released four journalists on bond after they were arrested Thursday over their investigation into the alleged illegal sale of government drugs by officials.

Fred Enanga, police spokesperson, told reporters that Godfrey Badebye, Rashid Kawesa, Kassim Mohamed and Solomon Sserwanjja were released and are to report back on Feb. 8.

The journalists were arrested while working on an investigative report for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) about the alleged theft of drugs in public hospitals, which are sold on the black market.

"We would like to acknowledge that Next Media in partnership with local correspondents from the BBC, while working on a tip, independently planned and carried out their operations surrounding the illegal sell of government drugs in selected government hospitals in Arua, Gulu and Kirudu," said Enanga.

"It is clear that their motive was to show how easy it was to buy government drugs...we do encourage them to continue with their documentary program and achieve their intended objective of exposing their targets, to help prevent such occurrences in future," he said.

However, Enanga said police is in touch with the directorate of public prosecution for legal guidance on whether the journalists in their quest for a story of essential importance to society could have breached any rules during their investigations.