Mpigi, 20th/12/2010; Supporters of Mawokota North aspiring Member of Parliament Peter Claver Mutuluza have roughed-up and beaten a journalist Drake Kizito at a campaigning rally.
Kizito, a journalist with Ink Media Agency had gone to cover Mutuluza’s rally on 17th/12/2010 at Jjeza parish, Muduuma sub-county, Mawokota north in Mpigi district.
The Mawokota North seat has attracted five candidates including Ameria Kyambadde a former president Museveni’s private secretary from the ruling party (National Resistance Movement), Peter Claver Mutuluza as an independent, Tebusweke Mayinja from Democratic Party, Buwembo Shafik from Forum for Democratic Change and Kaweesa Ahmed of the Justice Forum ticket.
Mutuluza is an incumbent Member of Parliament for Mawokota North who won the seat in 2006 on the National Resistance Movement ticket.
An eye witness told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that the rally had registered fewer people and Mutuluza was accusing police for blocking his supporters.
Drake Kizito said “he traded accusations before his supporters when he saw him joining his rally with a camera. “He accused me of spying for Ameria Kyambadde” His supporters rounded me up immediately and started beating me until police came for my rescue” Kizito said got injuries on his two legs.
When HRNJ-Uganda contacted Hon. Mutuluza he did not own up nor deny the matter.
“This is the first case of assault at the campaigning rally to be recorded by HRNJ-Uganda since the campaigns for members of parliament started on 16th/December/2010. “It indicates that campaigns for members of parliament are likely to be more violent than presidential and local government campaigns” HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
By the time this alert was written nobody had been summoned for questioning nor arrested despite that Kizito reported the matter and recorded statement at Jjeza police post.
HRNJ-Uganda demands that Hon. Mutuluza be arrested for inciting violence and assaulting a journalist.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road Mengo-Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
P.O.Box.71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 /+256-414-667627
Toll Free Helpline; 0800144155
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS UGANDA (HRNJ-Uganda)
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