Human Rights Network For Journalists-Uganda: 2013

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Prison warders assault journalists, destroy their gadgets

Rakai, 20^th/March/2013; Prison warders at Kalisizo government prison assaulted two journalists who were covering news of the escape of over 10 inmates on Monday March 18, 2013 at Kalisizo Town Council in Rakai district. The two journalists Pascal Lutabi a reporter with WBS television and the Daily Monitor and John Bosco Mulyowa who reports for the government owned media houses of Bukedde radio, Bukedde television and Bukedde newspaper were later detained at Rakai police station for over an hour. Lutabi who was badly beaten, was charged with assault before the two were released at about 10:00pm local time.

“They nearly killed me; they pounced on me and beat me as if I was a terrorist. I am feeling severe pain on the head and in the abdomen. They kicked me, boxed me, hit me with a gun butt and a stick. They destroyed my video camera. I, with my colleague had first gone to the prison reception from where the Officer in Charge of the Station turned us away. As we interviewed the nearby residents, a prison warder identified as Semata Robert came and hit me with a stick; I fell down but continued to protect my camera, until four other prison warders including one Kyomwiri Frank joined him in the beating. The scuffle lasted for over 30 minutes.” Lutabi told HRNJ-Uganda.

A medical report indicated that Lutabi had sustained 6 bruises on the head caused by a blunt object. The police retained the journalists’ video camera and photo camera, in addition to a bag that contained personal belongings.

Mulyowa told HRNJ-Uganda that a prison warder threw stones at him when he saw him recording the incident with a video camera, “I dogded the stones, and when he tried to chase me, I boarded a commercial motorcycle (boda boda) and fled. When I came back later to check on Lutabi at Kalisazo police station, I was arrested and detained for over an hour but was later released at night after recording a statement, without any charges preferred against me.” He said

“I was there and made an alarm to rescue Pascal. It happened in full view of the locals but they feared to intervene. When the police arrived at the scene, Pascal fled for dear life, but the prison warders pursued him and beat him again before the police handcuffed him and took him to Kalisizo police station.” A journalist who witnessed the incident told HRNJ-Uganda.

The police officer in charge of crime investigations in Rakai district, Rose Nabakooza told HRNJ-Uganda that the prison officers filed an assaulted case against Lutabi. “Yesterday, there were 10 inmates who escaped from prison. I don’t know what happened because I wasn’t there, but I know that these people fought. The prison warders reported a case of assault, but I released Pascal on bond because he too had been assaulted. Investigations are going on.”

“HRNJ-Uganda condemns the prison warders’ brutal assault of the journalists, it promotes mob justice. This is gross abuse of authority .The police should expeditiously investigate this matter and prosecute the culprits. Such acts are a direct attack on the freedom of the media which is provided for in the National and international laws.” Said HRNJ-Uganda National 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

Prison warders assault journalists, destroy their gadgets.

Rakai, ^20th/March/2013; Prison warders at Kalisizo government prison assaulted two journalists who were covering news of the escape of over 10 inmates on Monday March 18, 2013 at Kalisizo Town Council in Rakai district. The two journalists Pascal Lutabi a reporter with WBS television and the Daily Monitor and John Bosco Mulyowa who reports for the government owned media houses of Bukedde radio, Bukedde television and Bukedde newspaper were later detained at Rakai police station for over an hour. Lutabi who was badly beaten, was charged with assault before the two were released at about 10:00pm local time.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Human Rights Network For Journalists-Uganda: UCC bows to pressure, extends SIM cards registrati...

Human Rights Network For Journalists-Uganda: UCC bows to pressure, extends SIM cards registrati...: Kampala, 01 st /March/2013; Uganda Communications Communication has extended the SIM card registration deadline for 90 days after H...

UCC bows to pressure, extends SIM cards registration deadline

Kampala, 01^st/March/2013; Uganda Communications Communication has extended the SIM card registration deadline for 90 days after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda and Legal Brains Trust (LBT) dragged it to court seeking an injunction not to switch off unregistered subscribers on 1^st March 2013. The matter had come up for final disposal before the Deputy Chief Registrar of the High Court Civil Division, His Worship John Eudes Keitirima on Friday 1^st March.

HRNJ-Uganda and LBT agreed with UCC and the Attorney General of Uganda to withdraw the application for a court injunction on the switch off deadline which was before His Worship John Eudes Keitirima of the High Court. UCC’s head of communications, Fred Otunnu through his lawyer, Joseph Mastiko told Court that they had extended the SIM card registration deadline by 90 (ninety) days to 29^th May, 2013 explaining that extension would not affect the hearing of the main suit due on the 20^th May, 2013 in which HRNJ-Uganda and LBT claim that the registration process is marred with irregularities, illegalities and anomalies which must be rectified.

HRNJ-Uganda and LBT through their lawyers Denis Sembuya, Isaac Kimaze Ssemakadde and Mugabi Siras Kahima have also filed another application for a temporary injunction stopping UCC from setting any other arbitrary deadline until the anomalies are resolved. The application will be heard on 11 March 2013. Otunu told court that the extension of the deadline will not also affect the application for a temporary injunction.

“This is a major victory and stride made in protecting the rights of Ugandans whose freedom to communicate was at stake if UCC had deactivated their SIM cards. We implore UCC to overhaul and rectify the anomalies in the process to prevent the looming economic and social implications,” said HRNJ-Uganda’s National Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala,

According to UCC, Uganda currently has 16 million phone users and, only 70 per cent of them have reportedly registered their SIM cards.

Telecommunication companies including MTN, Warid, Uganda Telecom, Airtel and Orange on February 26^th, 2013 told the Ugandan Parliament’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) Committee that out of 16 million active subscribers, only 60 per cent had so far registered their SIM cards. They also revealed to the committee that they have encountered enormous challenges as the exercise has been marred by inconsistencies, confusion and uncertainties. They unanimously asked for an extension.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Court sets date to rule on deactivation of SIM-cards in Uganda

Kampala, 27^th/February/2013; The High Court of Uganda will on Friday 1^st March 2013 at 11 O’clock decide on the SIM card deactivation deadline following Human rights Network for Journalists-Uganda and Legal Brains Trust Limited application seeking for an interim order stopping the Uganda Communications Commissions (UCC) and the telecommunication companies from switching off unregistered subscribers. Over 9 million mobile phone subscribers face disconnection if the deadline is not extended.

The application will be heard in Uganda’ Capital Kampala by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court Civil Division, Keitirima John Eudes. UCC and the Attorney General of Uganda have been notified about this development.

HRNJ-Uganda, in its application filed through WEB Advocates and Solicitors on Wednesday February 27, 2013, wants court to issue an interim order of injunction to UCC, its servants or agents from implementing the 1^st March 2013 or any other deadline set for deactivation pending the resolution of the main case which was filed on 7^th February 2013 challenging the registration process. The duo contends that the registration exercise is marred with irregularities, illegalities and anomalies. The main suit will be heard on 20^th of May 2013 by Justice Eldad Mwangusha.

“We are glad that Court has set a date to listen to our prayers and we are hopeful that the order will be granted in order to prevent UCC from switching off innocent mobile phone users and depriving them of their Constitutionally guaranteed property rights and the freedom to freely communicate,” said HRNJ-Uganda’s National Coordinator, Wokulira Ssebaggala.

Journalists’ body petitions parliament over media rights

Human Rights Network for journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) petitioned the Human Rights Committee of Parliament on February 26, 2013 over the dismal working environment for the media in Uganda perpetuated by the high levels of impunity. HRNJ-Uganda wants Parliament to be actively involved in the protection, upholding and promotion of the freedom of expression and information in Uganda. HRNJ-Uganda has documented over 300 cases against journalists since 2009 by both State and non-state actors, but the perpetrators continue to walk scot free. Police has been implicated in most of the cases.

Various recommendations were made to the Committee by the journalists’ body. The Committee Chairperson, Hon. Jovah Kamateeka commended HRNJ-Uganda for being articulate on media rights and freedoms. She pledged that her Committee would analyze the recommendations and take appropriate measures. The recommendations included, putting in place measures to facilitate the visit to Uganda of the Special Rapportuer on freedom of expression and opinion as recommended by the UN Human Rights Council during the review of Uganda, take steps to address the culture of impunity of Human Rights violations by law enforcement officers, encourage and advocate for protection of Human Rights defenders including journalists, and inculcate Human Rights education into the forces’ training curriculum.

Others were; to ensure the independence of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and give it powers to effectively protect human rights as well as monitoring the way it handles cases lodged before it, to ensure that the process of developing the National Action plan is more transparent and fast-tracked so as to have the continued human rights violations controlled, and to implore government to strengthen its human rights mechanisms and continuously update its laws, policies and institutions in the area of protection and promotion of human rights, among others.
“About the visit of the Special Rapportuer, we will remind government. Most of your articulations are spot on and we shall present them to the other members of the committee and arrange for another interface between the full committee and HRNJ-Uganda to further our discussions. ” Kamateeka told the 6-man HRNJ-Uganda team.

She, together with the vice chairperson of the committee, Safia Nalule urged the journalists to act more professionally and carry out thorough research in their work in order to promote responsible journalism.
The HRNJ-Uganda head of Legal affairs, Catherine Anite told the Committee that criminal defamation is still a major challenge in our Law books as it criminalizes what people say consequently curtailing their freedom of expression. She further advocated for self regulation of the media through strengthening of the Independent Media Council of Uganda to weed out unprofessionalism, a move welcomed by the committee.

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

Friday, February 15, 2013

City Mayor Bans Journalists from Attending Press Conferences.

Kampala, 15^th/February/2013; The Lord Mayor of Uganda’s Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), Elias Lukwago has suspended journalists working with the Vision Group from covering his press conferences accusing them of biased reporting. The government owned Vision Group runs a number of government owned news papers, television and radio stations. The New Vision, on February 12 2013, published an article titled ‘IGG probes Lukwago over Chinese deal’, which Lukwago said was biased and inaccurate.

On February 13^,2013, Lukwago threw out of a press conference four journalists of the Vision Group, saying they had not been invited due to the biased reporting. “Before I start my address, I would like all journalists working for Robert Kabushenga or Vision Group to leave immediately. I did not invite you to this press briefing and I do not expect you to be here,” Lukwago is quoted to have said. Those thrown out include; Hannington Nkalubo of Bukedde Newspaper, Juliet Waiswa of the New Vision, Ssekagya Charles of Bukedde radio and Jeff Andrew Lule of Bukkedde television.

Lukwago had called the press to refute the New Vision article about the Inspector General of Government (IGG) inquiring into the botched deal, where Foton sought to introduce its automobiles in Uganda, and that he had obtained money from the Chinese company. Foton East African Ltd deals in supply of buses, garbage trucks and Lorries.

“I had informed them earlier not to attend the press conference in question, when they insisted and came; I had to ask them out, and they went out peacefully. I banned any journalist from Vision Group from attending my upcoming press conferences,” Lukwago told HRNJ-Uganda, adding that.”I have been inviting them to my press conferences and other activities since I became Lord Mayor in 2011, but they are biased and report negatively about me. They can cover other functions at City Hall, but not my press conferences.”

The Mayor’s ban comes a fortnight after the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga banned two journalists of The Observer publications from covering the August House over news articles she said were inaccurate. The journalists have since dragged her to Court challenging the ban.

The victim Vision Group journalists told HRNJ-Uganda that they had never had problems with Lukwago since they started reporting at city hall some years ago. The Chief Executive officer of the New Vision, Robert Kabushenga ruled out any confrontation with Lukwago, “I have been informed of the ban, but we shall not get into confrontation with Lukwago. It is ok if he banned our four journalists, we won’t go back to him.” Kabushenga told HRNJ-Uganda.

“This approach of arbitrarily suspending journalists from covering news events is prejudicial to freedom of expression and information. It is dangerous for the media, and should therefore not be condoned. It amounts to abuse of authority and violates the Constitutional guarantees on freedom of expression and information. Should the office bearers be aggrieved by journalistic work, they should resort to amicable settlements or seek legal redress,” said HRNJ-Uganda’s National coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala.