Kitgum,
27th/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 19th/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 18th 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 20th
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 02nd
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
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