Kampala, 13th/Nov/2010; A Radio Simba journalist Arafat Nzito who went missing 8 days ego has been released from detention after the intervention of the Human Rights Network for journalists-Uganda.
Nzito, 23, was kidnapped from Radio Simba on 4th/Nov/2010 by four plain-clothed men in a private registered Toyota double cabin at around 2:30pm.
His relatives, friends and workmates mounted a search at all police and security centers within and around Kampala in vain since his disappearance. The security and police authorities all denied knowledge of his wear-abouts.
This compelled HRNJ-Uganda to go to court over the matter and filed a Habeas corpus through their lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi on Thursday 12th/Nov, tasking the army commander, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) boss Brigadier James Mugira and the Attorney General Dr. Kiddhu Makubuya to produce the missing journalist.
The following day, Nzito secured his freedom. He was dumped at Kasasiro stage in Kamwokya, a suburb of Kampala Friday 12th/Nov/2010 in the afternoon.
“He called us at around 3:00 o’clock informing us that he was at Kamwokya where he had been dumped and that he was boarding a taxi to come to the radio. We stopped him and sent a station van which picked him and brought him to the station.” said a staff member at Radio Simba who preferred not to be named.
Sources say that Nzito was dumped by the same double cabin which kidnapped him from the radio.
Prior to his release, Nzito’s older sister Hadijah Nantambi and HRNJ-Uganda’s Ssebaggala received anonymous calls to the effect that, “Nzito has been released, find him at Simba”. Nzito was readily at Simba in about 20 minutes from then.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has since established that Nzito has been detained at the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT) headquarters at Kololo in Kampala-Uganda’s capital city, under horrible conditions.
“He looked stressed, dirty and couldn’t talk much or even answer to most of the questions we put to him. He had visibly lost weight”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes coordinator, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala who met him at Radio Simba
“It is very sad that after all this incarceration, no charges were brought against him. This is violence and torture at its best. It’s not clear why Nzito was kidnapped and detained for over a week. We want the security to justify this gross abuse of the law.” Demands the HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala
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)
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Radio Simba journalist goes missing
Kampala, 09th/Nov/2010; A Radio Simba journalist, Arafat Nzito has gone missing and his whereabouts remain unknown since 3rd/Nov/2010.
Nzito, 23years, was picked by plain clothed men in a private registration Toyota double cabin on 3rd/Nov/2010 at around 2:00pm local time from Radio Simba.
He is a resident of Kitintale, in Nakawa division, in Kampala –Uganda’s capital city.
Radio Simba’s chief news editor, Emmanuel Okello told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda(HRNJ-Uganda) that Nzito’s disappearance followed him receiving numerous phone calls to go and see meet some people in the radio’s parking yard-about 30meters away.
So he left his work half done and went to meet those people but he never returned to complete filing his news story. He did not return the following day as well.
According to an eye witness who declined to be named, Nzito was whisked away by four men in a vehicle with tinted screens at around 2:30pm. He first talked to them before he sat in the back seat in between two men. He did not notice the car registration number.
Nzito joined Simba last year as an intern student, and upon completion of his internship, he was enrolled as a reporter but on probation for two months now.
He regularly reports news from the police and the opposition Forum for Democratic Change which is the leading opposition political party in Uganda.
“He did not return to office to complete the story, so I called his cell phone but was not picking up. He did not report the next day, so I called again to no response. When I called again in the afternoon, the phone had been switched off”. Said Radio Simba Chief News Editor Emmanuel Okello
Nzito’s sister, Hadijah Nantambi has told HRNJ-Uganda that she noticed his absence on 5th/Nov/2010 yet his cell phone was off.
“When his phone remained off all through the night, I reported the matter to police and searched at various police stations and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU)- a serious crime crack down unit, but could not find him. We are very scared for his life, we need help”. Said Nantambi
The commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), James Mugira was surprised when HRNJ-Uganda contacted him over the matter.
“It’s news to me, but I am dispatching a team to investigate the younger man’s disappearance”. Mugira said.
“We are greatly concerned about such incidents; these threats are real at a time when politics is at its peak in Uganda ahead of the general elections early next year. Justice should prevail all the time, so Nzito’s captors should subject him to the courts of law if they suspect him of any crime”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala
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
Nzito, 23years, was picked by plain clothed men in a private registration Toyota double cabin on 3rd/Nov/2010 at around 2:00pm local time from Radio Simba.
He is a resident of Kitintale, in Nakawa division, in Kampala –Uganda’s capital city.
Radio Simba’s chief news editor, Emmanuel Okello told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda(HRNJ-Uganda) that Nzito’s disappearance followed him receiving numerous phone calls to go and see meet some people in the radio’s parking yard-about 30meters away.
So he left his work half done and went to meet those people but he never returned to complete filing his news story. He did not return the following day as well.
According to an eye witness who declined to be named, Nzito was whisked away by four men in a vehicle with tinted screens at around 2:30pm. He first talked to them before he sat in the back seat in between two men. He did not notice the car registration number.
Nzito joined Simba last year as an intern student, and upon completion of his internship, he was enrolled as a reporter but on probation for two months now.
He regularly reports news from the police and the opposition Forum for Democratic Change which is the leading opposition political party in Uganda.
“He did not return to office to complete the story, so I called his cell phone but was not picking up. He did not report the next day, so I called again to no response. When I called again in the afternoon, the phone had been switched off”. Said Radio Simba Chief News Editor Emmanuel Okello
Nzito’s sister, Hadijah Nantambi has told HRNJ-Uganda that she noticed his absence on 5th/Nov/2010 yet his cell phone was off.
“When his phone remained off all through the night, I reported the matter to police and searched at various police stations and the Rapid Response Unit (RRU)- a serious crime crack down unit, but could not find him. We are very scared for his life, we need help”. Said Nantambi
The commandant of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), James Mugira was surprised when HRNJ-Uganda contacted him over the matter.
“It’s news to me, but I am dispatching a team to investigate the younger man’s disappearance”. Mugira said.
“We are greatly concerned about such incidents; these threats are real at a time when politics is at its peak in Uganda ahead of the general elections early next year. Justice should prevail all the time, so Nzito’s captors should subject him to the courts of law if they suspect him of any crime”. Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala
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
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Court suspends Basajjabalaba assault case
Kampala/01st/Nov/2010; Buganda road court on 29th/Oct/2010 dismissed an assault case of a Kampala business don Hassan Basajjabalaba after the prosecution reported of unconcluded investigations into the matter by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Grade one magistrate Francis Kobusheshe noted that an assault case is not so complex to investigate and wondered what takes the Director of Public Prosecution so long to wind up with his investigations.
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba the chairman Entrepreneurship league in ruling party National Resistance Movement –Organization (NRM-O) on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the NRM special organs conference at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Kobusheshe dismissed the case and ruled that the DPP may re-instate the matter if he collects enough evidence against Basajjabalaba.
However, Basajjabalaba had never appeared in court to answer to the above charge despite a series of court summons issued to him by Kobusheshe requiring him to appear in court since 09th/September/2010.
Prosecutor Happiness Ayinebyona had earlier asked court to adjourn the case saying the file was still with the DPP Richard Butera but court overruled.
Basajjabalaba’s Lawyer Geoffrey Nangunya asked court to dismiss the case.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) calls upon the DPP to quickly re-instate the case in the interest of justice. “No matter what office Basajjabalaba holds in the ruling party but he should be punished for his wrong deeds. Perpetrators of violence against journalists must be punished to end impunity in the lead-up February 2011 general elections” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
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
Grade one magistrate Francis Kobusheshe noted that an assault case is not so complex to investigate and wondered what takes the Director of Public Prosecution so long to wind up with his investigations.
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba the chairman Entrepreneurship league in ruling party National Resistance Movement –Organization (NRM-O) on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the NRM special organs conference at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Kobusheshe dismissed the case and ruled that the DPP may re-instate the matter if he collects enough evidence against Basajjabalaba.
However, Basajjabalaba had never appeared in court to answer to the above charge despite a series of court summons issued to him by Kobusheshe requiring him to appear in court since 09th/September/2010.
Prosecutor Happiness Ayinebyona had earlier asked court to adjourn the case saying the file was still with the DPP Richard Butera but court overruled.
Basajjabalaba’s Lawyer Geoffrey Nangunya asked court to dismiss the case.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) calls upon the DPP to quickly re-instate the case in the interest of justice. “No matter what office Basajjabalaba holds in the ruling party but he should be punished for his wrong deeds. Perpetrators of violence against journalists must be punished to end impunity in the lead-up February 2011 general elections” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)