Consulate decline to meet rights body over exiled journalist

Kampala -14th/May/2010; Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is dismayed with the concealing behavior of the Eritrean Consulate to Uganda his excellence Issaias over the plight of the Eritrean exiled journalist Yonas Embye. Mr. Embye who fled

Eritrea to Uganda following the government’s continuous clamp down on private media, allegedly received threats from H.E Issaias. “While on streets of Kampala, Mr. Issaias raised his head from the window of car and threatened with kidnap and to deport me back to Eritrea within 24 hours” Mr. Embye reported.

Upon receiving the reports, efforts have been made by HRNJ-Uganda to meet the consulate but audience has been denied. “Such acts violate UN refugee treaty and diplomatic rules” HRNJ-Programmes Coordinator G.W. Ssebaggala said. The secretary to the consulate M/s Adriam has delayed the appointment from 07th/May/2010 when the incident was reported until today 14th/May/2010 when she informed HRNJ-Uganda office that the consulate deals only with public service not everyone which is outrageous.

We are concerned about the status of Mr. Embye who has taken upon himself to hide as a precaution measure to save his life from the alleged threats despite his harsh conditions

HRNJ-Uganda calls upon the government of Eritrea to investigate the alleged conduct of Mr. Issaias and bring him to order

For More information Contact;

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Plot 16 Clement Hill Road – Nakasero
P.O.Box 71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
Humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Or visit our Website: http://www.hrnjuganda.org/

City mayor face court over wetland plot

By Venex Watebawa

About 75 plots have been leased out to investors along the Mpanga close in Bugolobi to develop a fragile wetland along the Nakivubo channel.

The plots are part of the wetland which National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) is threatening to take Kampala Mayor Ntege Ssebaggala to court if he does not get off he wetland in Bugolobi on which he is planting trees.

Thi is the wetland under contest between NEMA and Kampala city mayor. Counter accusation between NEMA Executive Director Dr. Aryamanya Mugisha and Kampala Mayor Hajji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala may end them in court.

However, the circumstances surrounding the wetland are far beyond what NEMA was accusing the mayor.

Land titles displayed by Kampala mayor to our team indicate that this particular wetland is already leased out for development by the Uganda Land Commission and has given out titles to Nextel Limited a company owned by the house of DAWUDA.

The land titles signed by Mayanja Nkangi the chairman of Uganda Land Commission leased out 5 plots to Nextel Limited at a tune of 380 million shillings for a period of 99 years.

The minister for lands was at the site declined to comment over awarding land titles in a wetland saying he would first cross check if the titles were genuine.

According to Kampala mayor Ntege Ssebaggala, he says that there is no plot that can be gazetted in a wetland with out the consent of NEMA accusing them of double standards.

About 75 titles are said to have been awarded to different investors including the wetland owned by the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation. But NEMA director insist that Mayor Ssebaggala has a hidden agenda and he is planting trees in a disguise of reclaiming the wetland and will in turn claim ownership.

Court fixed June 2nd to decide Sedition case trial against journalist

By HRNJ-Uganda News Team

Buganda Road Court has fixed June 2nd to determine whether to stay a sedition case against former Radio One presenter Kalundi Robert Sserumaga.

Serumaga, who was abducted on 11th/September/2010 from WBS TV entrance after a “Kibazo on Friday” talk show by unidentified armed men was whisked away in a car boot to a safe house in Kireka, a Kampala suburb owned by Rapid Response Unit) police where he was tortured for more than 12 hours.

Serumaga who’s the eighth journalist facing sedition charges by last year was later dumped at Central Police Station before being taken to Buganda Road Court where he was accused of making seditious statements while on the television show which allegedly brought into hatred or contempt or to incite disaffection against the person of the president.

In 2005, Andrew Mwenda and East African Media Institution petitioned the constitutional court challenging the law whose ruling has not been delivered staying all pending sedition cases.

Through his lawyer F.K. Mpanga Serumaga asked court to stay the proceedings pending constitutional court ruling on the sedition petition.

Buganda Road Court Grade One magistrate Matega Francis fixed 2nd/June/2010 to deliver his ruling on whether the case should be put on hold.

Vice President attacks media over reports

By HRNJ-Uganda News team.

The Ugadan Vice President, Prof. Gilbert Baalibaseka Bukenya has publicly attacked the media over exposinsing his alleged wrong deeds in preparation for the hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (GHOGM) which took place in 2007 in Uganda.

Prof. Bukenya who chaired the cabinet sub committee is accused of flouting public procurement regulations when he authorised Shs. 13.9 billion to construct Munyonyo Commonwealth resort, Shs. 9 billion to procure BMW cars and he used CHOGM funds to grade a road to his hotel in Garuga, a Kampala surbub.

Prof. Bukenya who has been shielded by the Attorney General to keep away from appearing before Parliamentary Public Accounts committee to account for his actions, was forced by his boss (President Museveni) to appear before MPs.

While appearing before MPs on 03rd/05/2010, Bukenya attacked the media whom he described as uneducated and uninformed. "They have been writing ill of me. News papers have accused of hiding" Prof. Bukenya said. Tomorrow they will write: Bukenya was grilled. Can you show me where I have been grilled. Bukenya asked.

MPs warned Bukenya against using unparliamentary language.

Uganda media under attack by law of rule regime

The world press Freedom Day in Uganda has been marked when the media is being gagged, media houses shuttered down, journalists harrassed by police, judicial sanctions employed against journalists and direct attacks from all corners of the society inluding Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) among others.

The day has come when one journalist on remand on charges of treason, more than 30 journalists are in court on flimsy charges and more than ten have pending charges at the Media Offences Department established by Uganda Police Force to monitor media on daily basis and prefer charges against journalists. "Such attacks and violations indicate that journalists and the media are destined for tougher times ahead of 2011 general elections" Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) programmes Coordinator G.W.Ssebaggala said. Because impunity is on rampant, we call upon journalists to report abuses committed against them in order individual perpetrators be held accountable for their actions before courts of law.

In the meantime, Information and guidance minister Kabakumba Matsiko insists that the media in Uganda can not regulate its self. Speaking at the conference to mark the 2010 World Press Freedom Day at Golf Course hotel Matsiko said there's evidence that some media houses would operate in a way that would be a recipe for incitement, chaos, anarchy and a breeding ground for genocide. Last year five private owned radio stations were closed on allegations that they incited violence and 18 journalists were sacked under duress.

Activities to mark the day included a procession by media organisations code named Article 29 coalition. It ended with a particular meeting at the Railway ground on Jinja road among others