Masaka, 02nd/January/2015; Ronald Ssembuusi, a journalist formally working with the
Central Broadcasting Services (CBS) radio has passed on. He died at dawn on the
2nd of January 2015 at Masaka Referral hospital, where he had been
admitted due to his deteriorating health.
In October 2014, the Magistrates Court at Kalangala
convicted and sentenced Ssembuusi to a fine of one million shillings (USD 400) or
a one year jail term for a story he reported on CBS radio, on 17th November
2011 alleging that the former Kalangala LC 5 chairman Daniel Kikola was being
investigated in connection with the disappearance of solar panels donated to
Kalangala district by the African Development Bank to pump clean water in the
area.
At the time of his death, Ssembusi had appealed against his criminal
defamation conviction and sentence at the High Court in Masaka. Through his
lawyers, Catherine Anite and Nicholas Opio, Sembuusi had also filed a Reference
in the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, challenging the enforcement of criminal
defamation laws, which place unjustifiable restriction on freedom of expression
and access to information in Uganda
His death casts a very dark cloud over the journalism
fraternity in Uganda, most especially within the human rights defenders spectrum
in the country.
“We believe that Ssembuusi stood for a very good cause, he
was a very brave journalist and very passionate about his profession so much
that he remained focused, ambitious and true to his work as a journalist
despite his ailing health. We will forever celebrate Ssembuusi’s service to the
media and keep his aspiration burning. May Ssembuusi’s soul rest eternally in
peace.” said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.
Ssembuusi’s body will be laid to rest on 03rd
January 2015, at his ancestral place at Lwanume in Kalungu district at 02:00pm
local time.
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