Siraje Lubwama being forced in CPS by security agents
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Kampala, 19th/June/2012;
A journalist has sued the Kampala Metropolitan Traffic Police Commander, Assistant
Commissioner of Police Lawrence Niwabiine for allegedly assaulting him while he
covered a news story in Kampala three months ago. Niwabiine was jointly accused
with the Attorney General as the government Chief Legal Advisor.Siraje Lubwama, a journalist with the privately owned
Observer Newspaper, sued Niwabiine before the High Court in Kampala seeking
compensation for damages and inconvenience over the alleged assault on March 28th,
2012.
In his complaint, Lubwama claims to have lost his
belongings; a mobile phone handset and Shs150,000/= for which he holds
Niwabiine personally liable.He also wants court to declare Niwabiine unfit to hold
public office because of his conduct on the fateful day.In addition, he wants court to declare that his arrest was
unlawful and infringed on his duty as a journalist who was performing his
duties.
Three journalists including; Bukedde Newspaper’ Joseph
Mutebi, Hasifah Wanyana a court reporter for Kingdom FM and Lubwama were assaulted
on March 28th, 2012 near Buganda Road Court in Kampala as they
covered along with other journalists the release on bail of the opposition
leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and other opposition politicians accused of murdering
an Assistant Inspector of Police John Bosco Ariong. Two of the victims Lubwama
and Mutebi accused Niwabiine of leading the attack on them. Mutebi’s case was
since resolved amicably.
Lubwama alleges that
he was lifted up in the air by Niwabiine’s junior police officers before being
dumped inside the Central Police Station (CPS), and only released after fellow
journalists and opposition politicians intervened by storming the station. Court has not yet summoned Niwabiine and the Attorney
General to file in their defence in relation to the accusation before a hearing
date can be fixed.
“This is yet another positive development in holding
individual officers accountable for their deeds. A case against such a
high-ranking police officer would help tame other junior police officers who
have severally descended on to journalists and assaulted them with unabated
impunity. We want to encourage as many journalists who are victims of police
attacks to come up and seek for justice in the courts of law. HRNJ-Uganda
appeals to court to expeditiously handle the matter.” 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
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