Journalist assaulted by a mob.

Mbarara, 1st/07/2011, Amosias Ayebazibwe, the correspondent of a daily tabloid, the Red Pepper publication based in Mbarara has been assaulted for covering a demolition of a house belonging to a window identified as Asiimwe.

He was assaulted by a mob led by Jackline Nzaare, the wife of Mr. Cox Nyakairu, who is the Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC). They were demolishing a house of a Widow Monica Asiimwe whom Nzaare was accusing of grabbing her piece of plot.

An RDC is president’s representative at district level responsible for monitoring the implementation of central and local government services among other roles as per Article 203 (3) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

RDC Nyakairu early this year was also reported harassing journalists in Kabale district over a story which alleged that he pulled out a gun at a UMEME staff that had gone to his residence to disconnect power due to accumulative bills.

Ayebazibwe said he was called by his editor to go to Nyamikyabora Ward in Mbarara Municipality to cover a scuffle involving demolition of a house. He said "when I began taking pictures, one of her men alerted Jackline Nzaare that am a journalist, she immediately ordered for my arrest and all of a sudden a mob pounced on me confiscating my camera and phone.”

Ayebazibwe then ran for dear life and reported the matter to Mbarara police station leading to the arrest of three suspects who were briefly detained and later released on police bond.

When HRNJ-Uganda Monitor contacted the OC CID Mbarara Allan Tusiime confirmed the incident but added that police is investigating and the process is likely to be concluded soon and the matter will be taken to court.

“Our only fear is that parties involved in the case are politically powerful who are likely to compromise police in Mbarara but we want all involved in committing the violence be brought to justice and taken to court without delay.”

Ayebazibwe alleges that he’s living under pressure from fellow journalists in the area who pushing him to drop the case, saying that it will turn against him.

HRNJ-Uganda demand for the arrest of RDC’s wife Ms. Nzaare who ordered the beating and the case should be expeditiously investigated and taken to court.

For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road – Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School
P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com