HRNJ-Uganda alert, Court adjourns a journalist’s assault case against a senior police officer

ANDREW LWANGA ON CLUTCHES

Kampala, 18^th/ February/2015; Court at Buganda Road has adjourned a case in which a Wavah Broad Casting Services (WBS) Journalist, Andrew Lwanga was allegedly assaulted by Joram Mwesige a former Division Police Commander of Old Kampala Police Station.

This was after defence counsel George Spencer made an oral application seeking for a two weeks’ adjournment on grounds that, “the accused has a serious ailment and has been advised by his doctors to have a bed rest.”

Prosecution led by Deborah Itwau objected to the application on the basis that she had a witness in court (Andrew Lwanga) and seeking for an adjournment was intended to delay the due process of court.

The Trial Magistrate Sanyu Mukasa granted the defense’s application and adjourned the case to 25^th February 2015 for further hearing.

Prosecution alleges that on12^thJanuary 2015, while covering a demonstration by a group of unemployed youths who were heading to Police Headquarters in Naguru to deliver a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) General Kale Kayihura to allow them hold rallies in the different parts of the City, Andrew Lwanga was assaulted by Joram Mwesige, the former Division Police Commander of Old Kampala Police Station.

Lwanga sustained injuries on the head and was admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital and thereafter transferred to St. Francis Hospital Nsambya for over two weeks.

”We applaud the expeditious trial the judiciary has accorded this matter and the media for critically following and covering the progress of this case in public interest.” 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: info@hrnjuganda.org / humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk