Journalists Violently Dispersed And Assaulted By Police In Kampala

Kampala, 27^th/July/2012; a number of journalists were violently dispersed by the police in Kampala, leaving two injured and a photo camera shuttered.The journalists were July 26^thcovering a story where the police were blocking the city Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago with some Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) councilors from effecting a court decision to re-open the city’s district land board offices which had been shut by the KCCA Executive Director Jennifer Musisi.

The victim journalists included Chris Ssemakula working with Record Television. He was tear-gassed with pepper spray and assaulted twice as he tried to free the scene. He told HRNJ-Uganda that he was recording the events when he heard the operation commander order that the journalists be dispersed.

“I was recording the events when the operation police Commander Onesmus Mwesigwa ordered for the disperse of journalists. A police officer I could hardly recognize tear-gassed us, and as I was running away with my video camera, another one hit me with a baton on my right arm and in the back. I displayed my company Identity Card but he did not listen. I am undergoing a lot of pain. I am going to open up a case file.” He said.

Another victim was Daily Monitor’s photojournalist Lubowa Abubaker who was tear-gassed and hit with a baton by the police. His still camera was shattered when hit with a baton.

“I had my camera and was carefully taking photos at KCCA when a police officer holding a gun ordered that, ‘beat them, beat them’. They tear-gassed me, so I ran for dear life. During the scuffle, a policeman hit me in the back and my camera. Its lenses were shattered. I feel a lot of pain especially when I bend down.

Nkalubo Hannington a journalist with the government owned Bukedde paper was directly sprayed with pepper in the face. “I could not see the way because I was tear-gassed straight in the face but I managed to run for dear life. I think the police acted brutally against the journalists whom they clearly knew were doing their work. That’s where the police go wrong.” He told HRNJ-Uganda.

Other journalist victims of the tear-gas included K-FM’s Hadijah Mwanje (the HRNJ-Uganda’s Executive Board Vice Chairperson), Ivan Kabbale of NBS TV, among others

“The Police are turning out to be a big threat to media freedom in Uganda. It topped in the mid-year report on the state of the media. The police should desist from criminalizing the work of journalists who cover opposition related activities. The officers responsible should be held accountable for this brutal handling of the journalists.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda Programmes 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

Media Report Indicates Growing Impunity for Journalist Attackers

Kampala, 27^th/July/2012; A mid-year report released by Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has indicated that the environment for frontline journalists is getting more risky at the hands of the security agencies especially the police.Since January 2012, HRNJ-Uganda has recorded 50 attacks on journalists in the past seven months alone compared to 107 cases documented in the whole of 2011. The Uganda Police continues to lead the list of attackers with 26 cases followed by State House operatives with 7 and unfortunately, the Judiciary which is supposed to be the custodian of justice was among the violators with 5 cases documented.

Of the 26 cases in which police is implicated, no disciplinary action has been taken against any of the errant officers in spite of the fact that the cases were always drawn to the attention of the top police authorities. There have neither been any conclusive investigations. HRNJ-Uganda has therefore observed that impunity continues to be on the rise. The police have instead resorted to disguised suspicious compensation of its victims.

Other sources of attack included faith-based organizations (the Church), Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF), the community, an education institution –a school, a cabinet minister and unknown armed groups. Physical attacks contributed the highest number of violations with 19 cases, followed by blocking access to news scenes with 12 cases.Journalists working for the government media are also increasingly becoming more targets of attacks by the police. The Government owned Vision Group of companies which is a consortium of media houses experienced the most attacks with 25 cases. International correspondents were not spared too.

The attacks were spread countrywide with Kampala district recording the highest number of cases at 19, Wakiso eight, Kayunga seven, Mukono and Entebbe four respectively. Other areas that recorded incidences of attacks included Lugazi, Ntungamo, Lira, Pader, Teso, Kasese and Kaliisizo

Attacks ranged from arrests and detention, beatings, blocking access to news scenes, confiscation and malicious damage to property and deletion of recorded materials, among others. Male journalists were the most attacked with 45 cases compared to five females.

“This is a very worrying trend of events to have such a number of attacks against journalists during a time when there are no elections in the country. It is sad that the police have promoted impunity by covering up for the force’s errant officers other than reprimanding them. We call upon the police leadership to investigate these cases and the implicated officers and take punitive action,” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala.

To view the statement Go To:

http://hrnjuganda.org/PRESS STATEMENT ON THE STATE OF THE MEDIA six months.pdf

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 Released From Jail after Fulfilling Bail Conditions

Kampala, 26/July/2012; The High Court in Kampala has released Augustine Okello from jail where  he was remanded three weeks ago after failing to fulfill his bail conditions.

On the 3^rd day of July 2012, Justice Lameck Mukasa granted Okello bail but set stringent conditions including depositing Eight Million Uganda Shillings cash before being released. He was also required to deposit his land title or any document showing proof of ownership of land including his passport with the Registrar of criminal division of the High Court at Kampala.

Other conditions were for him to report to the Lira District Police Commander every Monday of each week and to the Deputy Registrar of the Criminal Division of Kampala every third day of each month. His movements beyond Lira Municipality were also restricted unless with explicit permission from the Registrar of Lira High Court. Okello’s four sureties were each bonded Ten Million Shillings, non cash.

Okello told a spontaneous press conference in Kampala that he was innocent and will prove it when trial starts. “Am so delighted to be finally out, I have regained my partial freedom. I believe I am an innocent man and will prove it in court when trial begins.” He said.

Okello was a radio presenter at Rhino FM in Lira. He was kidnapped on the evening of 13th July 2011 in Lira District under unclear circumstances and detained incommunicado for more than two weeks. Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) filed for habeas corpus at the High Court in Lira which pressurized security agencies to produce him in court.  He was produced and charged with treason at Buganda Road Court on 1st/Aug/2011 and committed to High Court on 6th January 2012 for trial. The matter has since then not been fixed for hearing.

“We are very delighted that Okello has finally regained his freedom. Justice delayed is justice denied”, therefore it is very crucial for the judiciary to expeditiously fix his trial and any other matters that have been pending for long without being heard in the next criminal session.” Said HRNJ-Uganda head of the legal department Catherine Anite.

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

Monitor journalist assaulted, detained by police in Masaka

Masaka, 13^th/ July/2012; Police in Masaka detained a Daily Monitor journalist while covering the Bukoto South by-elections. He was handcuffed and assaulted by a female police officer.Herbert Muggaga was arrested at Kinoni town in Masaka at around 10:00PM local time as he went to his hotel and detained at the Masaka Central Police Station for one night. He was later released on orders of the police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura without any charges preferred against him.

He told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that he clearly identified himself to the police but they went ahead to arrest him and handcuff only him of all the over 20 people that had been arrested.“The police got me carrying out an interview at a camp set up by the opposition politicians at white house hotel, where I had booked to sleep. I introduced myself and presented my company identity card, but the police operation commander ordered for my arrest. I was mixed with other politicians from where a police man came and handcuffed me tightly causing me pain in the process; he abused me as I pleaded for mercy. A female police officer came and started hitting my joints with a baton. I was later carried on a police truck together with other people to Masaka Central Police station at around midnight from where I was detained at night. I was released the following day without any charges.”

Muggaga was covering a hotly contested by-election for Bukoto South constituency which fell vacant after the election of Muyanja Mbabaali was nullified on academic grounds. The opposition Democratic Party (DP)Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga was declared winner beating the ruling party’s (NRM) flag bearer Alintuma Nsambu.

“This incident was very unfortunate for the police to single out the journalist from the cloud and maltreating him. It was a deliberate move to close out media coverage from the different scenes of the election. Such acts serve to intimidate the journalists who cover opposition related activities, which is a direct attack on the media freedom. Police should refrain from persecuting journalists who cover political events. We want the police to investigate this matter and take punitive action against the police officers that carried out this attack.” Said HRNJ-Uganda advocacy officer Robert Ssempala

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

Court orders for city mayor’s arrest over Journalist assault

Kampala, 13^th/July/2012; Court in Kampala has ordered for the arrest of the Mayor of Kampala’s Central Division Godfrey Nyakaana Amooti to face trial over robbery and assault of a Red Pepper journalist George Fidel Arinaitwe.The warrant was issued by the Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Mary Khainza after Nyakaana failed to heed to criminal summons issued against him last month. State Prosecutor Nelly Asiku asked the court to order for Nyakaana’s arrest.

Prosecution alleges that on February, 23 2011 during local council general elections for Kampala Lord Mayor, Nyakaana unlawfully attacked Arinaitwe causing him actual bodily harm and also robbed him of his Sony camera worth 400,000shs. In a bid to destroy the photos which Arinaitwe had taken, Nyakaana is alleged to have grabbed the camera from Arinaitwe and destroyed its memory card before punching him several times. He was displeased by photos taken of the fracas that broke out after people started accusing him of vote stuffing at the Railway ground polling station.

 At the time of the attack, Nyakaana was overseeing the votes of the ruling party’s (NRM) candidate Peter Sematimba. The elections were later cancelled by the Electoral Commission upon discovering that they were marred by wide spread irregularities throughout the district. They were later re-organized and Ssematimba lost to the opposition’s Erias Lukwago who is the current lord mayor of the city authority.

The matter was adjourned to July 27^th for Nyakaana to appear in court

.“HRNJ-Uganda has a lot of hope in this case because it would serve to deter public officials from misusing their offices to curtail media work. It is however unfortunate that Nyakaana was not in court. We hope that the police will execute the arrest warrant and produce him to face trial.” Said HRNJ-Uganda lawyer Catherine Anite

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