HRNJ-Uganda alert, Guard sentenced to four years for assaulting a journalist

Iganga, 18^th March 2014, A security guard, Kemba Azizi, 26 years of age, has been sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment for assaulting a Red Pepper journalist, Solomon Hamala. 

 “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.  I therefore find the accused guilty of assault contrary to Section 236 of the Penal Code Act and since he has been remorseful, he is sentenced to four years in jail,”  Iganga Grade One Magistrate, Sylvia Nvanungi said in her judgment

Prosecution alleged that on January 13, 2014, Kemba assaulted Hamala as he covered women traders in Iganga protesting the proposed eviction from the taxi park by Iganga Municipal Council.

Prosecution further alleged that the accused together with another security guard, Isiko Yakubu, now on the run, hit  Hamala on the head  using a baton and bicycle padlock before dragging him on the tarmac for over twenty meters.

“We are very happy about this judgment, it will be a lesson to the security personnel and the general public who continuously use their powers wrongly and cause harm to innocent people, especially journalists. We appeal to police to make sure that Isiko is arrest and face justice as well.” said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.

For More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Plot 18, Block 12 Stensera Road Kayanja Triangle Zone
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