police officers who assaulted journalists to go scot-free

Kampala, 05^th/October/2012; the commandant of  Kampala Metropolitan Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi has said that the three journalists assaulted by the police were to blame, accusing them of out stepping their boundaries at the Central Police Station (CPS).

He told Human Rights Network for Journalists- Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) at CPS in Kampala that it was wrong for the journalists to approach the police station as though it was an ordinary place. He said the police cannot investigate the matter since the journalists have declined to deposit their damaged cameras with police.

“This is a security installation where people cannot just enter as they wish. They have to follow certain rules. There must be standard operating procedures. We shall not allow people to jus come in here as if it is their home. Those journalists went beyond where they had to stop. When I told officers o take their statements, the journalists refused to hand over their damaged cameras, so we cannot proceed with any case against the officers.” Kaweesi told HRNJ-Uganda.

Kaweesi however did not quote any of the standard operating procedures, but only said that the police was in the process of coming up with such procedures. He accused the victim journalists of being opposition sympathizers. The Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura has severally accused members of the media of being embedded to the opposition.

“Tell those journalists to stop being opposition activists under the guise of journalism. Advise them. We shall not allow them….” He told HRNJ-Uganda.

HRNJ-Uganda reported that two journalists; Isaac Kasamani a photo journalist with the Daily Monitor and William Ntege a.k.a  Kyuumakyayeesu of WBS Television had been assaulted by the police at CPS. HRNJ-Uganda has further established that another journalist, Nicholas Mwesigye of the Red Pepper was boxed in the chest and pushed by the police.

“I had a pen and notebook with my Press card displayed in my chest. I was taking down notes when the police started chasing us away, and in the process a policeman in police uniform boxed me in the chest. When I demanded for an explanation, he reacted by pushing me and threatened that he could even beat me more. The tempers were rising but Kaweesi came in and prevailed over his men by saying that he had only told them to stop us from entering but not beating us.” Mwesigye told HRNJ-Uganda.

Mwesigye, just like Ntege and Kasamani, was not allowed to enter CPS to open up an assault case file immediately after the assault.

“The manner in which the police have decided to handle journalists is unacceptable. If the State or police is aggrieved by the work of journalists, it should work within the ambits of the law instead of resorting to illegal, highhanded, arbitrary and such unconstitutional means of assaulting journalists. The police should desist from criminalizing the work of the media to the extent of turning against individual journalists. Police should observe the law to its fullest extent.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala

For More Information Contact;

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School 

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

Police attack journalists covering Besigye arrest in Kampala

Kampala, 04^th/October/2012; the police have assaulted and shuttered cameras of two journalists as they covered the arrest of the opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye in Kampala

Daily Monitor’s photojournalist Isaac Kasamani told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that he was slapped by one policeman while another held him by the neck from behind and pulled him down, damaging his photo camera.

“I was taking photos of Dr. Besigye as they brought him to CPS when a police officer in a blue uniform stood in front of me to obstruct me and ordered me to stop taking photos. As I pleaded, he slapped me hard on the left cheek with his right hand. As I protected my camera, another officer standing behind me grabbed my neck from behind and pulled me down. I fell and hurt my right elbow. My camera was shuttered beyond repair. I was also blocked from entering CPS to register a case of assault” Said Kasamani 

Kasamani earlier reportedly survived a bullet allegedly aimed at him by police while covering walk to work demonstrations early this year. Police instituted an investigation which ruled out any possible shooting.

Another victim journalist, William Ntege a.k.a Kyuumakyayeesu told HRNJ-Uganda that he was pushed down the stairs of Central Police Station. He rolled down hurting his right leg and in the process his video camera was also shuttered.

Ntege told HRNJ-Uganda that he was filming Besigye’s arrest at CPS when he was pushed down the stairs.

“A police man ordered me to leave the place, but as I was explaining to him, another emerged and pushed me and I rolled down the stairs. My video camera was damaged beyond repair in the process. When I went to file a case at the same station, the officers turned me away saying I should return the next day. I cannot recognize the police officers since they had covered their heads.” He told HRNJ-Uganda.

Ntege was recently compensated for his two cameras damaged by the police as he covered opposition related stories. Ironically, the police destroyed the very camera which they compensated him for recently.

When contacted, the police deputy spokesperson, Vincent Ssekatte told HRNJ-Uganda that he did not have the facts yet. 

“This is a total violation of media rights and freedom. These habitual acts of violence on media practitioners by the police are a clear indication that impunity is on the rise in this country. This incident must be investigated and the perpetrators brought to book.” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.

For More Information Contact;

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 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

Journalist attacker has a case to answer

Wakiso, 03rd /October/2012; Court in Entebbe has ruled that Ddungu Elias has a case to answer in the assault of a Vision Group journalist Rebecca Nakame. “According to the evidence presented by the prosecution, you assaulted Rebecca Nakame Contrary to section 236 of the Penal Code Act and therefore you have a case to answer and you are required to prepare your defense.” Ruled the Magistrate, Bbosa Charles. This followed the evidence from several witnesses implicating Ddungu in the alleged crime against the Bukedde Television journalist. Ddungu is jointly accused with Katongole Issa, 26 and Mutagubya Jamil, 38 who are still on the run. Court issued arrest warrants against the duo. Meanwhile, court declared the fourth prosecution witness Kato Ssempa a hostile witness because his testimony was deviating from what he had stated at police, prompting the prosecution led by the Resident State Attorney Eunice Mbaine to pray that his evidence be expunged from the prosecution evidence to which court ruled in the affirmative. Court warned Kato against doing it again. Prosecution alleges that on 20th/April/2012, the trio, at Bweya village, Ssissa sub-county in Wakiso district assaulted Nakame occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 236 of The Penal Code Act and destroyed her property –a video camera which they also confiscated. Nakame was assaulted by a mob at a family home where she had been invited to cover a news story about a family land wrangle. She was attacked before filming the story. Nakame said that she was kicked, slapped, pushed and her hair pulled as she pleaded for mercy before being saved by a local council official. She complained of bruises and severe back pain. Hearing of the case has been adjourned to 10th of October 2012 when Ddungu is supposed to defend himself. “HRNJ-Uganda commends the court for handling the matter expeditiously. We appeal to the police to intensify their search for the two suspects who are still at large.” said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala. For More Information Contact; Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Kivebulaya Road at Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School 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

Vision group journalist injured on the head by police while covering news.

Kampala, 01^st/October/2012; a journalist working with the Vision Group has been injured on the head and left  bleeding  on his right eye while covering a news story in the capital Kampala.

Kizza Martin, a journalist with the government owned Bukedde Television was hit by a policeman on the bled profusely. This happened while the police was dispersing supporters of the City’s Lord Mayor, Ssalongo Elias Lukwago who together with the city councilors were protesting the reported ruthlessness of the Kampala Capital City Authority’s Executive Director, Jennifer Musisi.  The police fired teargas and used baton to disperse the opposition supporters.

Kizza told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that he was recording a scuffle involving the police and the Rubaga North Member of Parliament Moses Kasibante who was being denied access to the city center through Arua Park.

“This particular policeman first tried to hit my colleague Nkalubo but missed him narrowly at Arua Park.  I was capturing the incident of the police blocking Kasibante from accessing the place, when something hit me on the head; it was an elbow by the policeman who was using a baton to chase away people. I started bleeding on my right eye. A civilian helped to rush me to a nearby clinic from where I received first aid treatment. Am feeling severe headache and pain around the eye” Kizza told HRNJ-Uganda.

Efforts to talk to the police leadership were futile as their official cell phones went unanswered.

The police force banned holding public rallies, processions and demonstrations until after the country's Golden Jubilee celebrations which are due in a week's time on 9^th October, citing security reasons. The opposition and human rights activists however denounced the ban as illegal.

They argued the police’s directive is out of the legal framework governing the country as there are no laws backing up such a ban. The move by government curtails the fundamental human rights and democratic space in the country.

“The police force has of late turned its wrath to journalists who cover opposition related activities, yet the police leadership has not prevailed over these errant officers. The police should ensure the safety of journalists at all times rather targeting them because of the nature of their work. Journalists play an important role of informing the public and as such we challenge the police to take action against the officers who have been implicated in over 50% of attacks against frontline journalists.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 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