Lira,
06th.
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 17th-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 4th 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
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