Former Vice President sues News Paper

By HRNJ-Uganda News Team

Former vice President Dr. Specioza Wandera Kazibwe has dragged the Independent Magazine to court claiming damages arising from the alleged defamatory article published in the magazine issue 105 on 28th/April/2010. The article in question carried a story under title “Kazibwe squanders SACCO’s (President Museveni’s Prosperity for All Project) 300 million shillings leaving Busoga region poor”

The Independent Magazine started by journalist Andrew Mwenda two years ago is one of the few private news papers operating in Uganda. Mwenda the managing editor of the Magazine has more than 20 cases before court.

The story which was carried on the front page of the magazine in full color with Kazibwe’s portrait, further exposed Kazibwe’s wrong deeds while holding different public offices particularly in 2003 when she was a minister in-charge of Agriculture and she caused a loss of 4 billion shillings to the people of Uganda in the failed Valley Dam project.

The 300 million shillings allegedly embezzled was meant for raising standards of the People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Busoga region.

Through her Lawyer Nile Law Chambers Advocates and Solicitors, Kazibwe argued that the story portrayed her as a corrupt, dishonest, and incompetent who is unfit to head the Microfinance project, adding that the article allegedly accused her for frustrating President Museveni’s Prosperity for All.

She’s seeking permanent injunction restraining the Magazine from further publication of defamatory articles.

Early 2000, Kazibwe was paid tax payers money 2.5 billion shillings to sturdy in Harvard University upon being left out in the cabinet she was then serving as the vice president and was appointed presidential advisor on Micro finance after she returned two years ago.
High court civil division gave Independent magazine a deadline of 15 days to file its defense.

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: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: http://www.hrnjuganda.org/

Oil Company demolishes houses, plantations

More than 16 families have been left to gamble with survival as Dominion Oil Company contracted to extract oil in Nakabungo-B LC1 bordering with Queen Elizabeth National Park demolishes two houses and plantations worth millions of shillings.

The demolition exercise which started effectively 22nd/April/2010 has left cassava, maize, and rice plantations destroyed causing fear for food shortage in the area. The affected families are allegedly living on customary land and victims have not compensated.

Dominion Oil Company is also extracting oil in Arua Block 2 and Block 4 respectively.

The company targets Rwensama village, Kikalala parish, Bwambala Sub County Rukungiri District to be the drilling site for the oil project in the area.

Sources revealed that each affected family has been given kilos of beans and maize flour in terms of compensation and announcements have been going on radio Kinkizi.

However, spokes person Dominion Oil Company Andrew Nyakana said efforts to compensate victims are underway. “A government team was taken to the ground to assess the impact of the loss but they have not given us the actual figure to pay them off” Nyakana said, once the process is concluded victims will be paid in two weeks.

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: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

HRNJ-Uganda want Kakooza Mutale Punished for torturing a journalist

By HRNJ-News Team

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) condemns in the strongest term possible the arrest and torture of the Ggwanga New Paper editor Moses Kasibante.

Mr. Kasibante was arrested and tortured on 25th/May/2010 by Kalangala Action Plan Operatives in a numberless vehicle during the Mukono North by-election while at district headquarter polling station. The operatives confiscated his identity card and other valuable items.

“I was arrested by plain clothed gun-wielding men who forced me into a numberless Toyota Prado which whisked me away. After few minutes of my arrest, I found myself detained in a safe house in Mukono with a yellow gate where I spotted a yellow bus which resembled the one commonly used by Kalangala Action Plan” Kasibante said. While in detention he was ill-treated and sustained serious injuries.

After several hours of cruelty and degrading treatment, they started interrogating him until a phone call suspected to have directed operatives otherwise. These acts of torture are outlawed by the constitution and international instruments Uganda is a party and meant to scare away journalists from reporting on critical matters ahead of 2011 general election HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator G.W. Ssebaggala said.

Article 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda states that; No person shall be subjected to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and no one is supposed to subject any body to acts of torture.

Kasibante was transferred in his own vehicle this time and dumped at Mukono police station where he was charged with election violence under case reference number GEF/05/10 and recorded a statement. He was released on police bond.

In light of the foregoing it is our firmly held and treasured opinion that the acts of torture, inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment were and very much in contravention of our rights and freedoms as set out in Chapter four of the constitution and do state further that the said torture acts are demonstrably unjustifiable in a free and democratic society.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda therefore calls upon the Coordinator of intelligence services Gen. David Tinyefunza to investigate the para-military leader Kakooza Mutale and his subordinate operatives and be punished for torturing once found guilt.

That security agencies should respect the freedom of the press and other human rights as provided in the constitution and international instruments ratified by the government.

That parliament speed up the passing of the Torture bill whose overall objective is to punish and hold errant operatives, officers and perpetrators of torture liable for cases committed.


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 – Uganda
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Or visit our website: http://www.hrnjuganda.org/

Security operative arrests journalist over photos

Kampala, 19th/May/2010: Ggwanga news paper photo journalist Alex Lubwama has been arrested by an operative allegedly attached to state house over taking his photograph.

Mr. Lubwama who covered a court case on 17th/May/2010 involving four conmen who defrauded more than 80 million shillings from hardware suppliers was arrested outside Kampala City Hall court on his way to office and dragged to Central Police Station (CPS) Kampala.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has established the names of the operative as Bashir Okwir who resides at Bugolobi Flats, a Kampala Suburb. He’s part of the alleged group of conmen who was earlier granted bail

Lubwama alleges that his tools of trade were confiscated by the operative who did not introduce himself neither giving reasons for the arrest but grabbed him.

“I was kept at CPS for hours without a single charge and later released as a result of an intervention from my colleagues” Lubwama said.

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: news@hrnjuganda.org
info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Or visit our Website: http://www.hrnjuganda.org/

Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) case hearing for 8th/July/2010

By HRNJ-Uganda News Team

Court has fixed July 8th/2010 to start hearing the Central Broadcasting Service (CBSfm) failure government to produce settlement report.

This follows the Attorney General (AG) chambers failure to meet today’s deadline to show to court the commitment to settle the case out of court.

Uganda has lately joined few states on the globe that explore possibilities of mediation to settle civil cases outside court before cases of that nature are heard but the process seem to be not adhered to by the state.

Over 102 CBSfm employees dragged Broadcasting Council to court challenging the closure of the radio arguing that the closure was unlawful and purported to revoke its license. They further contest council powers used to execute the closure contrary to the Electronic Media Act or any other applicable laws.

High Court Judge Vincent Zehurikize while meeting both parties this morning expressed concern over the mediation processes are being abused. “What I have found out is that there are invisible litigants who are frustrating the process but I will hear this case on July 8th/2010” Justice Zehurikize said. If the attorney general chambers fails to avail settlement report he will go ahead to schedule and hear the case.

Employees led by Florence Luwedde argue that the forceful and alleged confiscation of CBS assets on 10th September 2009 was contrary to Electronic Media Act where Broadcasting Council has no legal right to withdraw license. They are seeking compensation in damages and lose of over 8 billion shillings.

Senior state attorney Patricia Mutetsi reported to court that effort to set-up a team comprising of officials from Broadcasting Council, ICT Ministry and Uganda Communication Commission hasn’t been realized before talks with CBSfm.

Broadcasting Council arbitrarily and excessively switched off five radio stations including CBSfm in the aftermath of September 10th, 11th and 12th riots. Three stations have since been re-opened.

Fore information Contact

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