COURT DIFFERS RULING ON JOURNALISTS FORGERY CASE.

Kampala, January, 31st,2012; Court in Kampala has differed  its ruling in a forgery case against the Daily Monitor Managing Editor, Daniel Kalinaki and the Political Editor Henry Ochieng. The ruling is now slated for February/ 07th/2012. The Makindye Court Chief Magistrate, Kavuma Joyce had set January/ 30th/2012 to rule on whether or not the accused has a case to answer.

The prosecution led by Samali Wakholi alleges that the duo, between July 31, 2009and August 2nd/ 2009 at the Monitor publication offices in Kampala, despite publishing the correct content of the letter on the newspaper website on July 31, subsequently forged the same letter by way of introducing alterations in the Sunday Monitor of August 2nd, 2009 titled; Museveni’s letter on Bunyoro land question?.

Kalinaki and Ochieng appeared at the Makindye court with their lawyers James Nangwala andAlex Luzinda, only to be told that the ruling had been differed. The editors deny the allegations. It is over two years since they were arrested and charged in court, and they are the first in the history of Ugandan media to be charged with forgery. 

In the said letter, President Museveni, in a bid to calm down the tensions between the locals, was proposing that elective positions in Bunyoro be ring-fenced formatives that are out-numbered by the majority immigrants. Haruna Kanaabi, the Executive Secretary Independent Media Council, said this is a strange case. “In my long career of journalism, I find it very strange that a journalist is charged with forgery simply because he reproduced a document. If sustained, this would mean that ethical matters are criminalized. This stands to be a landmark case”.

Upon conviction, the accused are liable to three years imprisonment. “Journalists in Uganda want the police to let the media freely operate as according to the existing laws other than resort to such prohibitive systems to stifle investigative journalism and debates. Police is inventing new ways of replacing the nullified laws bent on suppressing journalists”. Said the HRNJ-Uganda Programme CoordinatorWokulira Ssebaggala

He added that the Police should realize the need for a free media in a democratic society. HRNJ-Uganda appeals to the judiciary to expedite the process of ruling on this case, or else journalists would be kept in perpetual fear thereby curtailing their work. 

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda

 (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road at 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

MONITOR EDITORS’ CASE TO BE DECIDED TODAY

Mr Kalinaki (L) and Mr Ochieng appear before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Makindye in May last year. FILE PHOTO

Kampala, January, 30^th/2012; A City Magistrates Court will today determine whether or not two Daily Monitor editors should defend themselves over allegations of forging President Museveni’s letter on the Bunyoro/Bafuruki land question.

Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court is set to deliver the ruling a month after prosecution completed its testimony. In December last year, the State led by prosecutor Samali Wakholi, closed its case against Mr Daniel Kalinaki, the managing editor, and Mr Henry Ochieng, the political editor.

The trial Chief Magistrate, Ms. Joyce Kavuma, set January 30 for the court to rule on whether or not the two journalists have a case to answer. The court ruling comes more than two years after the journalists were arrested and charged in court.

Witnesses

Five prosecution witnesses, including former minister in-charge of the Presidency, Beatrice Wabudeya and the private secretary to the President in-charge of legal affairs, Ms. Joyce Kabatsi, testified in the case.

Other witnesses are: Mr Milton Birungi, the detective in-charge of the case, and Mr Dan Munanura, an officer in the police website and communications department.

Allegations

Prosecution alleges that the editors between July 31, 2009, and August 2, 2009, at the Monitor Publications Ltd offices in Kampala, despite publishing the correct content of the letter on the newspaper’s website on July 31, subsequently forged the same letter by way of introducing alterations in the Sunday Monitor of August 2, 2009 titled: ‘Museveni’s letter on Bunyoro land question’.

However, Mr Kalinaki and Mr Ochieng, represented by Mr James Nangwala, deny the charge. In the letter, President Museveni was proposing the ring-fencing of elective political positions in Bunyoro for natives who are outnumbered by immigrants. The editors deny the allegations.

The case. Daily Monitor editors Daniel Kalinaki and Henry Ochieng are accused of forging President Museveni letter on the Bunyoro/Bafuruki land question.


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http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1316368/-/b1dxjlz/-/index.html

POLICE TO INQUIRE INTO SHOOTING AT JOURNALIST

Kampala, January, 30^th/2012; The government has promised to carry out investigations into the shooting at Daily Monitor journalist Isaac Kasamani while he covered a rally organized by pressure group Activists for Change last week.

Addressing a press briefing at the Ugandan Media Centre at the weekend, the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr James Baba, said the police had not started investigations because they did not receive a formal complaint from Mr Kasamani.

“Despite several attempts to make contact with the journalist... , he has failed to make himself available to give a formal witness to investigators,” Mr Baba said.

However, Mr Kasamani denied receiving requests from the police to record a statement on the incident.

The police chief, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, said they would use an independent international investigator to conduct the inquiry.

Published by:

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1316406/-/b1dwwiz/-/index.html

POLICE SHOOTS AT JOURNALIST, ROUGHS UP OTHERS.

Kampala, January/25/2012; Isaac Kasamani, a Daily Monitor photographer  narrowly escaped death when a police man shot at him on the 24^th day of January at  about 7:30PM local time,  as he took a photo of a tear  gas canister  thrown near Dr. Kizza Besigye’s car at Gayaza road round about at Kalerwe as  police dispersed  people . Two others, Michele Sibiloni an AFP photographer and Suleiman Mutebi, a Bukedde T.V reporter were also roughed up.

Kasamani said that a policeman emerged from a van registration number UP 1928 and shot towards him as he took a photo. 

“I was about 7metres away from this police van from which a teargas canister had been thrown near Besigye’s car. I bent down to take a picture of the exploding canister. I saw the door of this van open and in a split second one of its occupant s–a man in a blue camouflaged police uniform shot in my direction, closed the door and sped off very fast. The bullet missed me narrowly as I was bending down to take the picture but I saw the sparks in my face. I was startled by the incident,” Kasamani told HRNJ-Uganda.

On Saturday 21th/Jan/2012, Kasamani while covering a scuffle between Besigye and police at Nakawa, a Kampala suburb had been confronted by the Kampala Metropolitan police (KMP) commandant, Assistant Inspector General of police Andrew Felix Kaweesi who told him that “So you are a Besigye journalist. You are everywhere he is.” However, Kaweesi denied the allegations when contacted by HRNJ-Uganda

“I have never threatened him to that effect. I don’t threaten anyone. Let him lodge a complaint about what happened and we investigate. Let them be careful in such times because anyone could be a victim in such situations. I could even see stones flying over Besigye’s vehicle,” said Kaweesi in his defence.

Suleiman Mutebi, a journalist with Bukedde television, who was also a victim of the attack, witnessed the shooting attempt, “I was just standing behind Kasamani. I saw a policeman open fire at him, and when I saw him bending, I feared the bullet had hit him. It missed him narrowly. Kasamani would be dead now”

Mutebi was roughed up by a policeman who attempted to grab his video camera. He managed to hold on tight to his camera before escaping from the wrath of the irate policeman. “He came to grab my camera. I pushed him off, he staggered to reach for his gun, and I swiftly took off into the crowd at the Kalerwe round about.”

Michele Sibiloni, an Italian photo journalist working with AFP news agency also struggled with two security personnel who attacked him from behind and forcefully attempted to take away his still camera.

“They grabbed me by the neck from behind pulling it backwards as they tried to grab my camera. I held on to it as I struggled to fight back. They lost the battle and ran away,” Sibiloni told HRNJ-Uganda.

Bukedde TV journalist, Suleiman Mutebi confirmed this. He told HRNJ-Uganda that he saw two men dressed in civilian attire running back to the police van after a bodaboda (motorcycle) cyclist helped in fighting to defend Sibiloni’s camera.

Hadijah Mwanje, a reporter and news anchor with K-FM radio, who witnessed the fracas, told HRNJ-Uganda that she has started fearing for her life.  “They are going to shoot and kill some of us one of these days, so I have developed a lot of fear now to cover news in such situations.” Mwanje is the Deputy Chairperson of HRNJ-Uganda.

“The situation is worrying. The life and property of journalists are under serious threat. There is no safe haven to conduct their duties anymore.  It is unfortunate that the institution that is supposed to keep law and order is responsible for creating disorder by breaking the law. They should desist from behaving like criminals”, said Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala, the Programme Coordinator HRNJ-Uganda.

HRNJ-Uganda is greatly concerned about the safety of journalists at the hands of police and other security agents who have intensified their resolve to block the media from covering brutal crackdowns by police.

The police have a duty to protect all citizens of Uganda including journalists. We want the police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura to come out and explain this situation, and why his security men are brutalizing and attacking journalists.

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

GUNMEN ATTACK CAPITAL FM JOURNALIST, HE FEARS FOR HIS LIFE.

Kampala, January, 24^th/2012; a journalist working with Capital FM radio in Kampala, Gideon Tugume was attacked by gunmen on the night of Saturday  20^th January 2012 at Kenjoy Supermarket.

Barely three minutes after Tugume had parked at Kenjoy supermarket in Bukoto a suburb of Kampala, than another vehicle arrived at bottleneck speed, hitting his car from the rear side of the driver’s seat and damaging the back part of the car.

“I was too shocked. When I came out to see what was happening, four men dressed in civilian attire emerged from a Honda CRV car registration number UAH 611U, grey in color, three of them were each holding a pistol while the other an AK47 rifle. I ran back into my car and locked the door. It is then that they started hitting my car with gun butts and kicking it with their boots. My two daughters started crying. My wife jumped out, and then they pounced on her, hitting her very hard on the car. She screamed and attracted the attention of the security men at Kenjoy who ran to her rescue,” Tugume told HRNJ-Uganda.

He adds that the gun wielding men introduced themselves as Gen. David Tinyefunza’s bodyguards. Tinyefunza is the national coordinator of security agencies in Uganda.

It is at this point that I reversed and sped off with my family to Kiira Road police at around 11:15PM from where I logged a case of threatening violence.

When contacted by HRNJ-Uganda, Gen. Tinyefunza denied any knowledge of the group who he kept refereeing to as thugs.

“Those are thugs, how can they be my escorts? They are the group that tortures our people. I will hunt for them and have them prosecuted and I will help in all the court battles. Anyone who claims to be my escort should be arrested. It is not the first time people are using my name to wreak havoc in the city. I cannot let this thuggery go on. I am sorry about what happened to Tugume,” Tinyefunza told HRNJ-Uganda.

Tugume came into the limelight last year when he was shot by security men on the right leg on May/12^th/2011 during the first phase of walk-to work demonstrations. He is still struggling with his kneel and doctors have recommended that he gets an operation.

“HRNJ-Uganda could not establish the motive of the attackers but cannot rule out foul play as of now since Tugume has people reportedly trailing him for unclear reasons. The organization further condemns this cruel act and all other attacks on journalists and implores police to vigilantly investigate these matters and prosecute the perpetrators without delay to ensure that the victims obtain justice,” said the HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala

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

THREE JOURNALISTS INJURED AS POLICE ARREST OPPOSITION POLITICIANS.

Kampala, 20^th/January/2012; Three journalists who were covering the arrest of opposition politicians at Katwe, Ssezibwa and Katonga  road in Kampala have been injured following attacks from multiple sources including law enforcement officers.

Several other politicians were arrested and detained at Jinja road and Kiira Police Station and beaten by law enforcement officers including police. The arrested included the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kiiza Besigye, MPs Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, Wafula Oguttu, and Ingrid Turinawe among others.  The arrest followed an opposition meeting by politicians who were at that time matching to Katwe, a Kampala suburb where they were planning to hold a public rally. 

The victim journalists Include Michael Kigozi a journalist with Radio One and Two commonly known as Akaboozi ku bbiri, Hadijah Mwanje the Vice Chairperson of HRNJ-Uganda and a journalist with K-FM and Nasser Kayanja a journalist with Radio Simba.    

Kigozi was beaten up by a policeman at Kiira road police. He hit him with a baton about ten times on his hands and other body parts as he demanded why he had taken photos without permission.

The police had earlier in the day arrested the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and other opposition politicians over a planned opposition rally at Katwe in Uganda’s Capital Kampala. Besigye along with others had been detained at Kiira road police.

Kigozi says that the policeman mistook him for a photo journalist when he pulled out a mobile phone from his pockets at a time when a police vehicle had just arrived and packed at the police entrance.

“It was about 7:40Pm, the policemen were still ring-guarding the place, when a bus came and parked outside, I moved closer to observe. When I pulled out my mobile phone, this policeman descended on me and started hitting me with a baton demanding to know why I was taking photographs. Three other policemen joined shortly. Other policemen standing by pleaded for my innocence in vain. I was actually very shocked about this attack. It was a bit dark and I could not identify the policemen who beat me up since there was no security right at the police.” Kigozi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda).

He is however reluctant to pursue a legal case since he can hardly identify his attackers. He says that an apology from them, once identified would do for him. He was not injured but experienced body pains.

The Kiira road Division Police commander (DPC) Moses Ochieng told HRNJ-Uganda that he was not aware of the incident, “I am not aware of such an incident but I know Kigozi very well, so am going to investigate the matter and take punitive action against all those involved.”

In a related development, another journalist, Nasser Kayanja working with Radio Simba sustained an injury on his right leg when covering a scuffle of police trying to block the Kampala district Woman Member of Parliament, Nabbilah Naggayi from holding a political rally at Katwe in Kampala.

“I was hit by a stone during running battles between the police and Nabbilah’s supporters. Police fired tear gas to disperse them.   I was hit with a stone and sustained an injury which was treated at Mulago hospital.” Kayanja told HRNJ-Uganda.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairperson of HRNJ-Uganda, Hadijah Mwanje survived arrest along Ssezibwa road in Kampala where police had intercepted DR. Kizza Besigye and other opposition politicians.

The K-FM radio journalist and news anchor was mistaken for being Nabbilah’s young sister, prompting a plain-clothed security man to grab her by the arm.

“He approached me and pronounced me under arrest. I identified myself as a journalist but he could not listen to me and other journalists who had now taken to defending me. I was only saved by the DPC for the Central Police Station-Kampala, Norman Musinga who stopped my arrest.” Hadijah, who has been a target of the police during riots and demonstrations before, told HRNJ-Uganda.

“We are witnessing a pattern of police attacks against journalists during demonstrations. So we realize that there is a deliberate move to silence the media from documenting their brutal acts committed against demonstrators who are expressing their grievances thereby denying the people their rights to be heard. These attacks also violate media rights and freedom as prescribed in the Constitution, regional and international treaties.” noted the Programme Coordinator, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.

HRNJ-Uganda, strongly appeals to the Police Professional Standard Unit (PSU) to make public the findings of all the previous cases of violations against journalists filed with them as they embark on investigating these new cases which are equally important. This backlog must be cleared as soon as possible so as to expedite justice.

For More Information Contact;

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

Kivebulaya Road at 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

TOP TELEVISION/RADIO STAFF NOT PAID SALARIES FOR 3MONTHS.

Kampala, 18^th-January-2012; over thirty workers of Top television and Top radio have gone three months without being paid their monthly salaries.

Top TV and radio are located at Bwaise a suburb of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, and are owned by the Christian Life Church.

The workers who talked to Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter said that they have not been paid their monthly salaries for the month of October, received half payment for November and none for December.

“I am one of the most senior employees at the station but I have not got my salary to date. Am so desperate now given this hard economic situation in the country.”  The source said.

Efforts to talk to the two stations’ Managing Director Jackson Ssenyonga who is also the senior pastor of Christian Life Church were futile as he was reportedly out of the country.

He was due to meet the workers at 2:00PM on Tuesday 17^th/Jan/2012, but the meeting did not take place as he was reportedly locked up in another meeting up to late.

“We did not get any updates from the management and each of us left one by one as time went on. We have not got any explanation as to why there has been no salary payment for such a longtime.” said another source.

The Top TV Station Manager, Charles Musana told HRNJ-Uganda that as a company, they are dedicated to paying their workers in time except when they have no money.

“We are so committed to paying our staff, but this being a private media house, we sometimes fail to raise the money in time, and as such the staff should wait. We last paid them on the 13^th of this month (Jan). There could be workers with a one-and-half month arrears, but we shall pay them all.” Musana told HRNJ-Uganda.

However, some workers dismissed Musana’s version as ‘total lies’.

Top TV has over thirty workers. Top radio has a string of other upcountry stations including one in Mbale, Mbarara, Masaka, Rhino in Lira and SMJ formerly called Kampala FM which broadcasts in English.

HRNJ-Uganda has also learnt that apart from the top managers at the radio and television who have running contracts with the company, majority of the staff have no contracts at all.

“Yes it is true most of them have no contracts. It is because the Human Resource Manager who had been hired by the company left before handing the employees their work contracts.” Musana explained.

“HRNJ-Uganda has noted that for a very long period of time, journalists’ economic rights have been violated by their employers. The Constitution under Article 40 provides for the rights of persons to work under satisfactory conditions and these include remuneration. The Employment Act of 2006 also echoes the same. So as a rights-based organization, we have undertaken a research to establish the gravity of the matter and its effect on the media in Uganda. We call upon the employers in the media sector to respect and uphold the economic rights of their staff as we strive to strengthen the media in Uganda. It is also apparent that most of the freelance journalists , who in most cases contribute the most to journalistic works  do not have contracts; this is a grave infringement to their rights” Noted the HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator, Wokulira SSebaggala.

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road at 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

COURT ADJOURNS TIMOTHY KALYEGIRA CASE.

Kampala, 16^th/January/2012; Court has adjourned the hearing of a case in which Uganda Record Managing Editor Timothy Kalyegira is accused of defamation.

The City Hall Grade one Magistrate, Juliet Hatanga adjourned the case to 10^th/February because the state prosecutor failed to turn up in court.

Kalyegira, who was granted bail by the court, has been under police harassment since Aug 3rd 2010, where he has been summoned to report to Kira road police station for more than 18 times.

The defense lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi wants court to dismiss the case on grounds that the charge sheet does not clearly explain what exactly the accused did that defamed the person of the president. “It is ambiguous and therefore my client can not defend himself against a case that he is not sure about. So court should dismiss it because it is wastage of time,” explains Rwakafuzi.

Prosecution alleges that on 12th and 16th July 2010 in Kampala district, with intent to defame the person of the president, Kalyegira unlawfully published defamatory matter on the Uganda Records, an online publication when he published that government was behind the plantation of the bombs that went off on July/11th killing more than 80 Ugandans at the Ethiopian village in Kabalagala and Rugby Club in Lugogo.

The government came out and blamed the bombs on al-shaabab, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda. So it was incensed that the Uganda record publication had run a different story version. Kalyegira was interrogated by security personnel at the CID, which later on searched his home and confiscated his laptop, cell phone, internet modem and passport. The passport has since been returned to him.

Section 179 of the Penal Code Act of 1950 states “Any person who, by print, writing, painting, effigy or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words or other sounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, commits the misdemeanor termed libel”.

However this law is being challenged by a group of journalists led by Barnard Tabaire in the Supreme Court.

“Human Rights for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) believes that this is yet another measure by the government to frustrate Kalyegira’s resolve to defend himself through an expeditious court process. We therefore call on the court to dismiss the case since government is failing to prosecute it in time.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator, Wokulira Ssebaggala.

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

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SETS NEW DATE FOR HEARING OF A JOURNALIST’S CASE LODGED FOUR YEARS AGO.

 Kampala, 16th/Jan/2012; Hearing of a case lodged with Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) Court four years ago by journalists has got a new hearing date set.

The Commission has set the hearing for 07^th/February/2012 at the Commission headquarters on Buganda Road in Kampala according to the latest summons. The earlier hearing on 09^th/Dec/2011 failed to take off under unclear circumstances.

The journalists protested brutal attacks by police and other security agencies.

In 2007, the journalists including Sam Kayiwa working with Power FM, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala formerly working with Radio Sapientia and Ssemakula Richard formerly working with Bukedde newspaper among others petitioned the Commission demanding for investigation into the violations against journalists’ press freedoms and rights. They also urged the Commission to take punitive measures against culprits including compensation for the victims.

The journalists alleged in their complaint that while covering both treason and murder trials of the opposition leader for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Dr. Kizza Besigye and  the 13 Peoples’ Redemption Army (PRA) suspects at high court in Kampala and Bushenyi, security forces sieged court and in an attempt to re-arrest the suspects who had been granted  bail, most journalists were beaten, their equipment and valuable items like money were  compulsorily confiscated and others were blocked from accessing  the court premises.

A complaint file UHRC 52/2007 was opened against the Attorney General for violations of freedoms and rights of the affected journalists.

 HRNJ-Uganda is concerned about the increasing restrictions on media freedoms particularly regarding the rights and liberties of expression, speech, conscience and association by the police, army and other security agencies.

“After the last hearing was adjourned under unclear circumstances, we are happy that a new date has been set and hope nothing changes this time round. It has however come way too late when most of the victims are almost losing hope for justice.  It is the mandate of the commission to ensure that justice is delivered to these aggrieved journalists and to bring to book all these power stricken security agents.”  Observes the HRNJ-Uganda litigation officer, Cathy Anite.

 For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

Kivebulaya Road at 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

POLICE BEAT UP JOURNALIST, DELETE PHOTOS AND CHARGE HIM WITH CRIMINAL TRESPASS

Pader, 12^th/December/2012; The police in Pader have beaten up a journalist, Frank Ezaruk who is the Uganda Radio Network (URN) bureau chief for Kitgum in Northern Uganda.

Ezaruk was covering a story about the contentious land in Manilamintwiea from where people were evicted in 1920. The former Member of Parliament for Erute North Angiro Gutomoi Charles had threatened to move to that area with about 5,000 evictees, however, Police moved to block him.

Police went ahead to arrest some locals they accused of conniving with Angiro to cause chaos. So when

Ezaruk took photos of these suspects and others like the Pader district chairman, Alfred Akena while addressing the locals, four policemen in a nearby parked police pick up descended on him, grabbed his camera and started deleting the photos one by one.

“The officer in charge of operations for Pader district Onek Romeo Ojara took me over to the District Police Commander for Pader, Sabiiti Ambrose who said he had not given me permission to take any photos. Sabiiti therefore ordered that they should take my camera and detain me as well. They ordered me to sit down. When I asked for the crime I had committed, two policemen kicked me from behind until I was on the ground.” Narrated Ezaruk to HRNJ-Uganda.

Ezaruk said that after about an hour on the ground, they now wanted to tie him along with other suspects, but when he resisted saying he wasn’t a criminal, two other policemen pushed him further on the ground and tied his arm with a rope. The OC Operations however ordered to untie him moments later.

The police then immediately charged Ezaruk with criminal trespass and taking photos from a prohibited area.

“They took my statement which they wanted me to sign  without reading it back to me as required by law.

They had omitted the part where I said I had been kicked and pushed on the ground. They later included it and I signed. And I was released on bond. My arm is hurting and am suffering from serious back pain” Said Ezaruk.

When contacted, the DPC Sabiiti told HRNJ-Uganda that the journalist committed an offence when he took photos of a prohibited area without permission from the police. He threatened to prosecute Ezaruk if he misbehaves now.

“I had pardoned him but now that he is making noise, I am going to prosecute him. This issue is complicated, and this land wrangle can not be reported in the media. I had told him not to take any photos from here. So he committed a crime. But I don’t know who deleted his photos” Said Sabiiti.

Ezaruk reported back to police on 12^th/January/2012 and had his bond was extended to the 18^th/January/2012 as investigations into the alleged case continue.

“HRNJ-Uganda is currently undertaking investigations into the matter and will not hesitate to take punitive action against these police officers.”  HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala noted.

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

HRNJ-UGANDA PETITIONS POLICE DISPLINARY BODY OVER LIRA JOURNALIST.

Lira; 12^th/January/2012. The Human Rights Network for Journalist-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has petitioned the police’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) over the arrest of Daily Monitor’s journalist, Opio Emmanuel and deletion of photos from his camera.

HRNJ-Uganda has asked the commandant of PSU, Commissioner Kyomukama Samuel to carry out investigations and ensure that Opio opens up a case file against the officers and take action against those who violated the law. The petition was also brought to the attention of the police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura and the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

Opio, the daily Monitor correspondent based in Lira district, alleges that on the 17^th day of December 2011, while he was covering a story where the police were interrogating four suspects arrested during a demonstration that protested UMEME’s failure to provide power to the residents in the area, he was arrested and harassed by the Deputy Regional Police Commander (D/RPC) for Lango region in Northern Uganda, Alfred Tumure.

He further alleges that Alfred Tumure the D/RPC, with the aid of two other policemen roughed him up and slapped him before deleting all materials from his photo camera. The complainant also claims that he was briefly arrested and detained for two hours before the UPDF Army’s 5th Division Spokesperson Ceaser Olweny intervened and pleaded on his behalf.

Opio’s efforts to open up a case file against Tumure at the Lira Central Police Station were allegedly frustrated when all the police officers including the OC CID Tugume Godwin, one Owuni (Police no: 26351) and Mapuwe (no: 25129) along with other plain clothed policemen turned him away, claiming that it was not proper to institute a case against their superior who they believed had committed no offence

If proved, these allegations constitute a violation of the complainant’s right to freedom of information and media freedoms under Article 29 and freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment contrary to Article 24 and 44 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

“It is therefore in the interest of HRNJ-Uganda that these errant officers are brought to book in a very transparent manner without any delay.”  HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala emphasized.

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

Bail Application filed for committed journalist.

 

Kampala, 10^th/Jan/2012; Augustine Okello, a radio presenter at Rhino FM (a branch of Top Radio) in Lira has applied for bail in the High Court in Kampala through his defence lawyer, Counsel Duncan Ondimu.

Okello, who was committed to trial in the High Court on the 6^th of January 2012, has been in detention for six months now.

This is the second bail attempt, the first one having been denied by the presiding judge on grounds that the sureties were not substantial, that the medical form was vague and that proof of ownership of the accused’s land in Lira was not strictly proven.

HRNJ-Uganda and the defense counsel have filed a fresh bail application in the High Court in Kampala under bail number (06/2012) with the relevant amendments. A new medical form clearly indicating that the accused is ill and cannot be treated by the prison has already been obtained. Other sureties from Lira have been identified and Proof of ownership of the accused’s land has also been availed by his wife.

However, currently most of the judges are attending the 14^th annual judges’ conference in Kampala which will last for four days. We hope that as soon as applicable, there will be an available judge to hear the application, so that the accused receives justice expeditiously.

Okello a.k.a Rouks was kidnapped on the evening of 13th of July 2011 under unclear circumstances in Lira District after holding a number of meetings with the district internal security officer (DISO) Stephen Eriaku and another police man attached to Lira Central Police station.

He was detained incommunicado for more than two weeks in different places including Kitante based Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Kireka, the headquarters of Rapid Response Unit (RRU). RRU has since been disbanded and incorporated into other security organs.

He was brought to court after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) filled for habeas corpus at High Court in Lira which pressurized security agencies and he was later taken to a subordinate court in Kampala (Buganda Road court).

Okello is the second journalist from Northern Uganda to be charged with treason after Mega FM’s Otim Patrick who was kidnapped in a similar way and is currently languishing in Luzira prison pending the hearing of his case.

Since the time of his arrest and detention, Okello’s health condition has and continues to deteriorate greatly due to the conditions in Prison. Therefore, HRNJ-Uganda hopes that the presumption of innocence as laid down in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 under Article 23(6) (a) be visited in his favour and in the interest of justice and observation of the Constitution.

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

Journalist committed to High Court for trial

Kampala, 06^th/Jan/2012; Augustine Okello, a radio presenter at Rhino FM (a branch of Top Radio) in Lira has finally been committed for trial to the High Court in Kampala after spending six months in jail.

 Okello a.k.a Rouks was kidnapped on the evening of 13th of July 2011 under unclear circumstances in Lira District after holding a number of meetings with the district internal security officer (DISO) Stephen Eriaku and another police man attached to Lira Central Police station.

He was detained incommunicado for more than two weeks in different places including Kitante based Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and Kireka, the headquarters of Rapid Response Unit (RRU). RRU has since been disbanded and incorporated into other security organs.

He was brought to court after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) filled for habeas corpus at High Court in Lira which pressurized security agencies and he was later taken to a subordinate court in Kampala (Buganda Road court).

Okello is the second journalist from Northern Uganda to be charged with treason after Mega FM’s Otim Patrick who was kidnapped in a similar way and is currently languishing in Luzira prison pending the hearing of his case.

Okello was charged with treason on 1^st/Aug/2011 without a charge sheet and the defense lawyers are still struggling to access the prosecution file.

Attempts however were made by HRNJ-Uganda’s Lawyer Duncan Ondimu who applied for pre-trial bail in the High Court which was heard on the 24th and 25th of October last year. However, court denied the accused bail on the grounds that the medical form was vaguely written by the medical officer at the prisons, the sureties were not substantial and that proof of property and the particulars of Augustine’s land in Lira were not strictly proven.

“We welcome the development but court should consider releasing all suspects including the two journalists who are languishing in Luzira prison’s remand section because police has failed to conclude investigations into their cases. The police and other security agencies should only arrest after thorough investigations in order to avoid long pre-trial detentions.” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.

He stressed the need for a well designed mechanism that will audit operations of the police in order to recommend for amendments in the police Act.

We also call upon the judiciary with immediate effect to consider releasing all suspects who have spent more than six months on remand and expedite their trials.

HRNJ-Uganda is closely keeping track of the case and eagerly waiting for court to fix the hearing date.

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

HRNJ-Uganda condemns police for roughing up and denying justice to a journalist.

Lira, 06^th. January.2012; The Human Rights Network for Journalist-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is dismayed by the conduct of the Deputy Regional Police Commander (D/RPC) for Lango region in Northern Uganda, Alfred Tumure who roughed up a journalist and slapped him before deleting all materials from his photo camera.

Emmanuel Opio, the Daily Monitor correspondent based in Lira district fell victim to this gruesome act on 17^th-December-2011 when he was covering a story where the police were interrogating four suspects arrested during demonstration that protested Umeme’s failure to provide power to the residents in the area.

The four suspects included Mike Adoko who is the ruling party NRM spokesperson for Lira district, Patrick Omara the opposition FDC spokesperson for Oyam district, opposition UPC’s Issa Otto who is the former area Member of Parliament (MP) for Oyam and Charles Amiru also former MP for Erute North in Lira district, all of whom have since been charged with staging an illegal assembly.

Opio says that as soon as he had entered the interrogation room at Lira police, Tumure grabbed his camera and stuck to it for two hours.

“With the assistance of two other police men, Tumure roughed me up, slapped me before taking away my camera. I had not taken any photos there. He detained me for two hours. He returned my camera only after the intervention of the UPDF army’s 4^th division spokesperson Ceaser Olweny. At the time, the camera had been formatted thereby deleting all my materials.” Opio narrated to the Human Rights Network for journalists (HRNJ-Uganda).

However, Tumure did not inform Opio about the deletion of his material from the camera.

Efforts by Opio to open up a case file against Tumure at the Lira Central Police Station were frustrated when all the police officers including the OC CID Tugume Godwin, one Owuni (Police no: 26351) and Mapuwe (no: 25129) along with other plain clothed policemen turned him away.

“They said they could not institute a case against their very superior. Tugume told me that he had consulted with the Resident State Attorney who sealed the matter when he advised that there was no case to answer for Tumure since he had committed no crime.” Opio Said.

Tumure who declined to comment about the deletion of the materials from Opio’s camera told HRNJ-Uganda that he was not aware that Opio had any concerns. “I am not aware that the journalist was aggrieved at all.”

The Lira CPS officer in charge of Training and administration, Fisto Sikaku told HRNJ-Uganda that Opio was free to report his case to any other nearby police station or to the Police’s Professional Standards Unit (PSU) in Kampala. He said he did not know on which grounds they denied Opio his right to file a case.

Opio feels aggrieved because he was assaulted, intimidated and harassed.

“It is very unfortunate for the police who are supposed to uphold law and order to blatantly abuse people’s fundamental rights including the freedom of the media and the right of access to information as the eyes and ears of the public. Otherwise, this is serious case of abuse of office which HRNJ-Uganda has resolved to pursue to the very end.” Warned the HRNJ-Uganda Program Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

He added that it seems that there was connivance among the officers to frustrate the journalist’s efforts from seeking justice from a law enforcement institution.

HRNJ-Uganda calls on the police in the area to allow the journalist open up a case against the deputy RPC Tumure within this week and police should investigate the matter failure of which the organization will not hesitate to take drastic measures to ensure that justice prevails.

HRNJ-Uganda therefore calls upon the police force to use internal mechanisms to prevail over its errant officers like Tumure and Tugume.

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