media group slaps news blackout on district chairman over terrorism remarks

Kitgum, 27^th/September/2012; Media practitioners from Kitgum district under their umbrella body Kitgum District Media Practitioners’ Association (KIMEPA) have slapped a news blackout on the Kitgum district chairperson, Luka Nyeko for alleged persistent attacks on the media.

In their statement to the media and other stakeholders, dated 19^th/September/2012, KIMEPA accused Nyeko of attacking a Kitgum town based radio station Might Fire FM that several of its staff was engaged in partisan activities and promoting opposition interests in the district. He accused the radio of being anti government, courting urban terrorism, inciting violence and causing unnecessary alarm. He threatened the radio staff and management with arrest over the alleged crimes.

On 18^th of September 2012, Nyeko also ordered two journalists out of a nodding disease review meeting at the district council hall without tangible explanation. They included Komakech Steven of Mighty Fire FM and Jimmy Wokorach Oboi of the Vision Group who doubles as the chairperson of the media association.

Might Fire is a Christian founded radio station broadcasting predominantly in Luo. It covers the districts of Acholi sub region, parts of South Sudan, West Nile, Karamoja and Lango sub regions.

KIMEPA accused Nyeko of persistently using the district council sessions and other public events to criminalize the media. “Some of the most salient verbal attacks include among others; labeling media houses anti-regime, accusing the staff of Mighty Fire Radio for courting urban terrorism….” Read the statement.

KIMEPA vice chairperson, Jimmy Wokorach Oboi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that the media blackout commenced on 20^th September 2012 and would remain in place until the chairperson unconditionally apologizes to the media practitioners in writing.

However when contacted by HRNJ-Uganda, Nyeko ruled out giving any such apologies, “I don’t have a problem with Might Fire FM, but it seems they have a problem with me. In fact, they are terrorizing the people of Kitgum as a radio. I will never apologize to them. Apologize for what? That’s something that is impossible. Let them fight and I will now come out as the district chairman and engage them with full force.” Nyeko retorted

Might Fire’s Station Manager, David Oketch told HRNJ-Uganda that he did not know why Nyeko was bitter with the radio. “We just don’t know what his problem is with us, I think he is not well-versed with the media freedoms and practice. We even gave the district free airtime of two hours in our ‘Community hour’ program from Monday to Friday to talk about education, production, business, health and security, but they don’t fully utilize it.

HRNJ-Uganda has established that Nyeko has asked Might Fire for copies of its registration certificate, the initial proposal of the radio, work-plan and budget, list of all benefactors, names of all staff and their qualifications and names of the board members among others. He has also asked for a certificate of membership of KIMEPA. All these would be reviewed at the district security council meeting scheduled for 02^nd October 2012.

When contacted by HRNJ-Uganda, the Kitgum District Police Commander Nasur Oringa, dismissed any terrorism incidents in the area, saying that the police have not got any such information or acts of terrorism in the district. He cautioned politicians against using terrorism claims against others without evidence.

 “It is dangerous for such a high profile leader to attack the media organizations and individual journalists at public gatherings. It puts the journalists’ lives in great danger at the hands of mob justice. Leaders should refrain from making statements that have the potential to incite the public against journalists. HRNJ-U calls upon Mr. Nyeko to withdraw the claims or will be held personally liable for the safety of media practitioners” Said HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator

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

Hoima Journalist under Police Harassment over Airing Alleged Critical Sound Byte - HRNJ-Uganda's Blog - Blogster

Hoima Journalist under Police Harassment over Airing Alleged Critical Sound Byte - HRNJ-Uganda's Blog - Blogster

Hoima Journalist under Police Harassment over Airing Alleged Critical Sound Byte.

Hoima, 26^th/September/2012; A Spice FM journalist Fred Byenkya aka Fredo is under police harassment in Hoima for airing a recorded sound-byte of a critical member of parliament.

Spice FM is a private media house owned Edgar Agaba former Executive Director of Public Procurement and Disposal Authority (PPDA) based in mid-western region of Uganda.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that on 25^th/August/2012 during a political talk show called ‘Your Parliament’ Byenkya aired a sound-byte of the Buyaga West Member of Parliament Barnabas Tinkasimire which reportedly accused President Yoweri Museveni of failing to unite the ruling NRM party to which he presides over as chairperson and accused government of marginalizing the Bunyoro sub-region in development program, among others. Hon. Tinkasimire is a member of the ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM).

HRNJ-Uganda has discovered that since the date the alleged sound byte was aired, the moderator of the show Byenkya has been interrogated four times by different police officers at Hoima but no charges have been brought against him.

“We invited Hon. Tinkasimire to the talk-show, but since he was too busy in Kampala, we went to Kampala and conducted an interview with him, when I played the sound, security officers from Hoima district police rang me, later came over to the radio and asked for recording. After I was summoned to Hoima police station and made me record a 3-page statement. They wanted me to clarify on what the MP had said, and questioned why I had chosen to host Tinkasimire.” He told HRNJ-Uganda.

The detectives allegedly told him that they suspected that the show may have caused hatred against the person of the president.

When contacted by HRNJ-Uganda about the progress of the police file, the District Police Commander Augustine Kasangaki declined to comment about the matter. He said since the journalist had not been given a police bond, there was nothing for him to say about the matter, “Was he given a police bond? There is nothing I can tell you if he wasn’t given a police bond.” He said before hanging up.

The officer in charge of crime at Hoima police station Nimanya Godson also declined to give details about the file, “I am sorry; I cannot devolve any information to you, since I don’t know you myself. Someone can use this information for other purposes, so am sorry I can’t divulge it to you” he told HRNJ-Uganda.

“Security apparatus in the countryside continue to narrow space for media practitioners through intimidating, harassing and kidnapping journalists. Such actions have got a chilling effect on the operations of the media in the countryside and at the end the media will promote self-censorship” HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said. 

He added that police need to learn from other countries where police investigations are carried out before arresting a suspect.

HRNJ-Uganda condemns in the strongest terms possible the manner under which the police in Hoima is trying misuse its powers to intimidate media practitioners to stop availing platforms to those with divergent views to the government.

HRNJ-Uganda calls upon the Uganda Human Rights Commission to intervene in order to guarantee space for media practitioners in the countryside.

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

Government Bans Critical Song from Radio Airwaves

Kampala, 24^th/September/2012; the State’ broadcast regulatory body Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) has banned radios from airing of a new song by renowned local artiste Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, pending investigations into claims that its critical of the Capital City Authority’s Executive Director Jennifer Musisi.

The song ‘Tugambire ku Jennifer’, translated to mean ‘please talk to Jennifer on our behalf’ was released early this month by Ssentamu a.k.a Bobi Wine, the self-proclaimed ‘Ghetto president’. The translated chorus says ‘Tell Jennifer on our behalf to reduce on her harshness because the town is ours’.

The song raises Kampala’s problems ranging from increased murders, robberies to eviction of vendors off Kampala streets. The song also allegedly points out that Jennifer’s ruthlessness is worsening the lives of poor city dwellers. 

Art. 29 1 (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 states that everyone shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression which shall include freedom of the press and other media.  Also, the regional charters and international conventions the Ugandan government has signed provide for this right and everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; such a right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of their choice.

Although the Executive Director, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), Eng. Godfrey Mutabaazi could not name a particular complainant, he told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that they had received complaints from several people about the intentions of the song. “Several people complained to the commission that the song was abusive, so we can’t allow the airwaves to be used to insult others. The song was not banned, but we have instructed airwaves not to play the song until our investigations are complete, so that we can pronounce ourselves on it. We got the song from our data bank, and we are investigating it” said Mutabaazi.

Eng. Mutabazi however could not tell how long the investigations would take before the commission can pronounce itself on the song.

In 2009, the UCC arbitrarily and excessively closed down five private radio stations and also banned open air radio talk shows which were providing platforms to the citizens to check those in power. All of them are back on air and the last one was re-opened late 2010, but none of the media managers or journalists was taken to court to answer for the alleged flouting of broadcasting regulations.

Bobi Wine told HRNJ-Uganda that the song was not an attack on any person but his right to freedom of expression as a stakeholder in the capital. He refuted claims that it was directed at Jennifer Musisi. He warned UCC against being used to serve individual interests. “Let me advise the Commission to remember that they are mandated to serve all the people and not a person. Let it listen to what the people are trying to communicate instead of intimidating their messenger. Listen to the voice of the people and understand instead of misunderstanding, communicate, don’t miss-communicate!”

Asked whether the airwaves ban on the song was communicated to Bobi, Mutabaazi said that as a commission, they only deal with broadcasters and not producers, so they did not need to do so at the material time.

Bobi said he was set to launch the song next month in October, although it was still not clear whether Musisi would allow holding the music concert in the city. He however defended his song saying, “Jennifer does not mean Jennifer Musisi the Executive Director of KCCA.”

“The Commission should accord the artiste a fair hearing since investigations are on-going and avoid misusing its powers to curtail his right to freedom of expression” Said HRNJ-Uganda National 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

Two Witnesses Pin a Journalist Attacker

Wakiso, 24^th/September/2012; two witnesses have testified against Ddungu Erias who is accused of assaulting a Vision Group journalist Rebecca Nakame.

Nakaweesi Sumaiya, who was at the scene of the incident testified in court on 20^th September against the accused alleging that on the fateful day, Ddungu with two others who are still at large severely beat Nakame up thereby causing her actual bodily harm. 

Another witness, Dr. Ojara Santo, a medical doctor who carried out a medical examination on Nakame testified that when he examined the victim, she was distressed and in pain with a wound on the right foot measuring 2cm and tenderness on the back. The injuries were less than one day old and were caused by a blunt object. They were graded as harm.

Kato Ssempa who was expected as the third witness did not appear in court, but witness summons were issued against him by the Magistrate, Charles Bbosa. The summons were issued on application by the Resident State Attorney Eunice Mbaine.

Prosecution alleges that on 20^th/April/2012, the trio, at Bweya village, Ssissa sub-county in Wakiso district assaulted Nakame occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 236 of The Penal Code Act and destroyed her property –a video camera which they also confiscated.

Nakame was attacked by a mob at a family home where she had been invited to cover a news story about a family land wrangle. She was attacked before filming the story.

Nakame said that she was kicked, slapped, pushed and her hair pulled as she pleaded for mercy before being saved by a local council official. She complained of bruises and severe back pain.

Hearing of the case was adjourned to 27^th of September 2012 where the 3^rd prosecution witness is expected to testify.

“HRNJ-Uganda welcomes this development and commends the court for exercising its mandate. We pray that the third prosecution witness turns up at the next hearing so that the prosecution closes its case.” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey 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