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