VISION GROUP JOURNALIST DRAGS ATTACKERS TO COURT.

Wakiso, 04^th/June/2012; The Vision Group journalist Rebecca Nakame has dragged her attackers to court in Entebbe.

The reporter with the government owned Bukedde Television accuses Katongole Isa aged 26 years, Mutagubya Jamil, 38, Ddungu Erias, 40years and others still at large of assaulting her occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 236 of The Penal Code Act.

One of the suspects Ddungu Erias appeared in court before Entebbe Chief Magistrate and denied the charges. He was released on a non-cash bail of Ug. Shs300,000/=. Court presided over by Grade II Magistrate Nassi Molo issued criminal summons for Mutagubya and Katogole.

On 20^th/April/2012, Nakame was attacked by a mob on the orders of one Hakaya Luswa a special police constable attached to Kajjansi police station. Her camera was damaged and confiscated. The gruesome incident happened at Bweya village, Ssissa sub-county in Wakiso district where she had gone to cover a news story about a family land wrangle. She had not started filming when a family member spotted her video camera in the bag and reported her presence. She was mobbed by some family members for about 10 minutes, while others tried save her along with the local council defense chief one Kato who rushed her to Kajjansi police station.

Nakame told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that she was kicked, slapped, pushed and pulled by the hair as she pleaded for mercy. She sustained bruises and severe back pain.

“This is a major stride taken in delivering justice to the victim journalist. Mob justice has cost the media lives of the practioners, so it is such a real danger to the media which should not be condoned at any level. This comes at a time when four Mukono based journalists were mobbed up last month. We hope that the matter will be handled expeditiously.” said HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala.

The matter was adjourned to 20^th of June where all the suspects are expected to attend 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