For immediate release
Soroti, 28th/Feb/2011; Security operatives in Mbale district arrested the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala in a manner that exposed a purported journalist Julius Odeke.
Ssebaggala was arrested at Joint clinic in Soroti Municipality, Eastern Uganda at 3:00pm on Saturday 27th/Feb/2011 shortly after visiting and interviewing Mr. Odeke.
HRNJ-Uganda team was in the region to assess the environment under which journalists operate and the possible support which can be extended to the victims. The team visited districts namely; Bungokho, Mbale and Soroti.
“After an earlier interview with him at the clinic, I rang Odeke to get a telephone contact of a doctor to treat a journalist who had been beaten in Mbale. So he asked me to go back to the clinic. Upon reaching there with a colleague Jennifer Loy Akurut, Odeke pretended to be talking to the doctor but instead calling the security operatives. Shortly, he came with three operatives; one of them identified himself as a police officer and two from Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI). He ordered them to arrest me. They ordered me to surrender my cell phone, laptop, camera and notebook”. Narrated Ssebaggala
He adds that, “All this time, Odeke was shouting on top of his voice, accusing me of interfering with his life. He at some point said he could even kill me because he was too disappointed with HRNJ-Uganda which he accused of jeopardizing his relations with the army”.
The arrest and detention inside the clinic lasted about 30minutes. They released me after deleting all the interview materials and photographs I had taken while interviewing Odeke.
“Odeke denied getting any support form HRNJ-Uganda, instead praising the Army which ordered his evacuation from Mbale hospital to Soroti. I later learnt that Odeke had a meeting with army officials a day earlier (0n 25th/Feb/2011) in Soroti town. I believe Odeke is a security plant spying on fellow journalist and the opposition politicians.” Observed Ssebaggala
Odeke claims to work for the Red Pepper publication. He was shot on 18th/Feb/2011 in a scuffle between opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Nandala Mafabi and Minister for the presidency Beatrice Wabudeya for the Budari West parliamentary seat. Mafabi won the seat.
Basing on what happened;
We believe that Mr. Odeke masterminded Mr. Ssebaggala’s arrest with whose actions had intentions to frustrate the efforts of HRNJ-Uganda in its bid to uphold journalists’ rights and freedoms.
We are therefore withdrawing any form of supports towards Mr. Odeke.
HRNJ-Uganda role in promoting human rights;
Genuine journalists are counted as human rights defenders who speak for the poor, oppressed, and the voiceless.
We defend genuine journalists to promote human dignity and human rights especially the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information all of which are inherent.
HRNJ-Uganda would like to re-echo that it has limited resources which we can’t commit to spies who have occupied space at the expense of genuine practitioners.
“The arrest of Mr. Ssebaggala is an insult and invasion to the profession. It must be fought by all stakeholders. We are very concerned about the way security agencies have occupied the operating space for true journalists hence blocking them from accessing good services.” Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala
HRNJ-Uganda calls on the army to guarantee the safety and security of journalists in Uganda.
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
HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS UGANDA (HRNJ-Uganda)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Local council chairman and his bouncers beat-up a photojournalist, confiscate his camera
Kampala, 23rd/Feb/2011; Kampala central division chairman Godfrey Amooti Nyakana and his bouncers have rounded up and assaulted a Red Pepper photojournalist Arinaitwe George Sidel over taking photos without their permission.
Arinaitwe is the seventh journalist to be assaulted during the wide-spread violence that characterized the local council five polls for district chairpersons and councilors held today.
Arinaitwe, 26 told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that at 9:30am local time he was alerted about the electoral malpractices by a source at Railway Park polling station along Jinja road and hurried to reach the scene.
He said upon reaching at the scene he found people arguing over the many ballot papers which had been stuffed in the box yet very few people had voted according to the register.
“I started taking photos and immediately a gang of people came, lifted me up and took me to Nyakana who immediately grabbed my camera. I pleaded to him to release my camera but instead his bouncers boxed me in the face and I fell down” Arinaitwe narrated.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that despite pleadings from fellow journalists to get back the camera but Nyakana resorted to insults and disappeared with camera on a motorcycle locally referred to as boda bodas. He accused the journalist for taking his photo without his permission
“People should understand that photojournalists are not obligated to seek permission to take a photo of anybody while in a public place. Such an act is a gross abuse of journalists’ rights and freedoms and this is the second time when Nyakana is taking the law his hands” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
HRNJ-Uganda demand for the arrest of Nyakana and his bouncers to and brought to justice as a way of reducing high level of impunity in Uganda.
The case has been reported to Kampala Central Police station and a file has been opened.
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
Arinaitwe is the seventh journalist to be assaulted during the wide-spread violence that characterized the local council five polls for district chairpersons and councilors held today.
Arinaitwe, 26 told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that at 9:30am local time he was alerted about the electoral malpractices by a source at Railway Park polling station along Jinja road and hurried to reach the scene.
He said upon reaching at the scene he found people arguing over the many ballot papers which had been stuffed in the box yet very few people had voted according to the register.
“I started taking photos and immediately a gang of people came, lifted me up and took me to Nyakana who immediately grabbed my camera. I pleaded to him to release my camera but instead his bouncers boxed me in the face and I fell down” Arinaitwe narrated.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that despite pleadings from fellow journalists to get back the camera but Nyakana resorted to insults and disappeared with camera on a motorcycle locally referred to as boda bodas. He accused the journalist for taking his photo without his permission
“People should understand that photojournalists are not obligated to seek permission to take a photo of anybody while in a public place. Such an act is a gross abuse of journalists’ rights and freedoms and this is the second time when Nyakana is taking the law his hands” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
HRNJ-Uganda demand for the arrest of Nyakana and his bouncers to and brought to justice as a way of reducing high level of impunity in Uganda.
The case has been reported to Kampala Central Police station and a file has been opened.
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
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
HRNJ-Uganda Alert; Six journalists beaten, four survive lynching as Ugandans vote for local government councils
Kampala, 23rd/Feb/2011, Stick-wielding hooligans linked to the Kampala mayoral candidate of the ruling NRM party Peter Ssematimba have assaulted six journalists at Kakeeka polling station, Rubaga Parish, Lubaga division in Kampala.
Ugandans on February 23rd were electing the local council five chairperson and district councilors.
Information indicate that the hooligans hatched a plan to beat up journalists as they called media houses that a candidate Peter Ssematimba was going to vote at Kakeeka polling station at 10am and therefore requested for media presence . Peter sematember had voted earlier than the time communicated.
The plan to beat up journalists resulted from wide coverage that was highlighting the election regularities where several ballot boxes were found full with pre-ticked ballot papers favoring Peter Ssematimba the ruling party candidate.
“We were tricked that Ssematimba was going to vote at Kakeeka. Many of us went but reaching there we found hooligans throwing stones at police and polling officials and we started recording” said Nabukeera a victim journalist.
She said the violence sparked off when some supporters questioned the volume of ballots which were stuffed yet there was small number of voter who had turned up.
Among the journalists critically assaulted and beaten up in the line of duty is Nabazziwa Lydia a reporter for Bukedde TV who sustained a serious injury on the right ear and is undergoing an operation at Kololo Hospital. She was beaten up at super FM Radio owned by the Ruling party candidate Peter Ssematimba where there was a report that pre-ticked ballot papers had been dropped in the toilet where she was roughed up.
Nixon Bbaale a camera person with Channel 44 TV survived with a big cut on his head while covering the scuffle at Kakeeka polling station in Lubaga division. He is currently admitted at Mengo hospital in St. Luke Ward one in a critical condition.
Brian Nsimbe a reporter for Channel 44 TV was assaulted and injured one of his arms. He was admitted at Mengo hospital and later discharged.
Nabukeera Florence a reporter with Bukedde FM was violently beaten up at Kakeeka polling station in Rubaga where she had gone to cover Peter Ssematimba a candidate while voting. According to the medical report, she has developed a clot in the left arm which has swollen and is being attended to at Rubaga Hospital.
Namatumbwe Christine a reporter and Luganda News anchor at Metro FM was also roughed up and sustained several injuries on the right arm, her radio recorder, mobile phone and the hand bag were all stolen. She was rushed to Rubaga hospital for medical treatment and later discharged.
The Metro fm Editor Hasfa Namuli told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that by the time of attack, Namatumbwe was reporting live from the polling station about the scuffle between National Resistance Movement-Organization’s candidate Peter Ssematimba and Ssuubi’s candidate Erias Lukwago.
“I found her at the Lubaga hospital in severe pain where she was admitted following injuries on her right arm” said Namuli
Jane Anyango a senior reporter with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Television was violently assaulted at the Kakeeka polling station. Anyango was critically injured in the face, had blood ooze from the mouth, sustained injuries on the leg and has bruises on the buttocks and is in acute pain. She is undergoing treatment at Mayor Clinic.
She told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that victims who were interviewed before had alleged that Ssematimba had hired hooligans to clobber journalists and supporters of rival candidates.
“I saw them armed with sticks with nails and stones to assault us. The hired hooligans were traveling in four taxies to the scene of the crime” said bleeding Anyango.
“We are worried about the escalating cases of violence against journalists in Uganda. This is the highest number of victims we have received since the beginning of electoral process in November in 2010 committed in a day” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
The beating up of journalists occurred in the presence of an armed police constables who looked on as journalists were being assaulted.
In this election, frontline journalists e.g. photographers and camera persons and their tools that were used to document history were majorly targeted following the media coverage that unearthed a lot of election irregularity marred the just concluded presidential and parliamentary elections.
In the meantime, HRNJ-Uganda has also recorded a case where four journalists including Steven Mbidde a journalist with K FM and Michael Kigozi a presenter and reporter with radio One as well as two female journalists from Bukedde TV were cut-off by stick-wielding hooligans at Super fm but police rescued them before the situation had gone out of hands.
The harassment was one of the tools to intimidate journalists as a measure to silence them from covering critical areas referred to as hot spots where election malpractice was suspected to occur.
On Friday the 18th February 2011 during the presidential and parliamentary elections, Julius Odeke a journalist with the Red Pepper and the Razor was shot in the ribs and Gerald Mutembu, a journalist with WBS TV was mobbed up and boxed and his lips shattered.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda condemns such violence subjected to journalists in the strongest term possible and pledge to work with police to ensure that those who were involved in this violence are arrested and brought to justice.
The election that was characterized with ballot stuffing and has since been suspended after it was reported that the process was full of irregularities that were highlighted in the media earlier in the day.
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
Ugandans on February 23rd were electing the local council five chairperson and district councilors.
Information indicate that the hooligans hatched a plan to beat up journalists as they called media houses that a candidate Peter Ssematimba was going to vote at Kakeeka polling station at 10am and therefore requested for media presence . Peter sematember had voted earlier than the time communicated.
The plan to beat up journalists resulted from wide coverage that was highlighting the election regularities where several ballot boxes were found full with pre-ticked ballot papers favoring Peter Ssematimba the ruling party candidate.
“We were tricked that Ssematimba was going to vote at Kakeeka. Many of us went but reaching there we found hooligans throwing stones at police and polling officials and we started recording” said Nabukeera a victim journalist.
She said the violence sparked off when some supporters questioned the volume of ballots which were stuffed yet there was small number of voter who had turned up.
Among the journalists critically assaulted and beaten up in the line of duty is Nabazziwa Lydia a reporter for Bukedde TV who sustained a serious injury on the right ear and is undergoing an operation at Kololo Hospital. She was beaten up at super FM Radio owned by the Ruling party candidate Peter Ssematimba where there was a report that pre-ticked ballot papers had been dropped in the toilet where she was roughed up.
Nixon Bbaale a camera person with Channel 44 TV survived with a big cut on his head while covering the scuffle at Kakeeka polling station in Lubaga division. He is currently admitted at Mengo hospital in St. Luke Ward one in a critical condition.
Brian Nsimbe a reporter for Channel 44 TV was assaulted and injured one of his arms. He was admitted at Mengo hospital and later discharged.
Nabukeera Florence a reporter with Bukedde FM was violently beaten up at Kakeeka polling station in Rubaga where she had gone to cover Peter Ssematimba a candidate while voting. According to the medical report, she has developed a clot in the left arm which has swollen and is being attended to at Rubaga Hospital.
Namatumbwe Christine a reporter and Luganda News anchor at Metro FM was also roughed up and sustained several injuries on the right arm, her radio recorder, mobile phone and the hand bag were all stolen. She was rushed to Rubaga hospital for medical treatment and later discharged.
The Metro fm Editor Hasfa Namuli told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that by the time of attack, Namatumbwe was reporting live from the polling station about the scuffle between National Resistance Movement-Organization’s candidate Peter Ssematimba and Ssuubi’s candidate Erias Lukwago.
“I found her at the Lubaga hospital in severe pain where she was admitted following injuries on her right arm” said Namuli
Jane Anyango a senior reporter with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Television was violently assaulted at the Kakeeka polling station. Anyango was critically injured in the face, had blood ooze from the mouth, sustained injuries on the leg and has bruises on the buttocks and is in acute pain. She is undergoing treatment at Mayor Clinic.
She told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that victims who were interviewed before had alleged that Ssematimba had hired hooligans to clobber journalists and supporters of rival candidates.
“I saw them armed with sticks with nails and stones to assault us. The hired hooligans were traveling in four taxies to the scene of the crime” said bleeding Anyango.
“We are worried about the escalating cases of violence against journalists in Uganda. This is the highest number of victims we have received since the beginning of electoral process in November in 2010 committed in a day” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
The beating up of journalists occurred in the presence of an armed police constables who looked on as journalists were being assaulted.
In this election, frontline journalists e.g. photographers and camera persons and their tools that were used to document history were majorly targeted following the media coverage that unearthed a lot of election irregularity marred the just concluded presidential and parliamentary elections.
In the meantime, HRNJ-Uganda has also recorded a case where four journalists including Steven Mbidde a journalist with K FM and Michael Kigozi a presenter and reporter with radio One as well as two female journalists from Bukedde TV were cut-off by stick-wielding hooligans at Super fm but police rescued them before the situation had gone out of hands.
The harassment was one of the tools to intimidate journalists as a measure to silence them from covering critical areas referred to as hot spots where election malpractice was suspected to occur.
On Friday the 18th February 2011 during the presidential and parliamentary elections, Julius Odeke a journalist with the Red Pepper and the Razor was shot in the ribs and Gerald Mutembu, a journalist with WBS TV was mobbed up and boxed and his lips shattered.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda condemns such violence subjected to journalists in the strongest term possible and pledge to work with police to ensure that those who were involved in this violence are arrested and brought to justice.
The election that was characterized with ballot stuffing and has since been suspended after it was reported that the process was full of irregularities that were highlighted in the media earlier in the day.
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
Saturday, February 19, 2011
A mob trounces on television journalist.
Mbale 18th/Feb/2011; A WBS TV journalist based in Mbale district Gerald Mutembu has been beaten up by a mob allegedly supporting the state minister for Housing Michael Werikhe.
Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS) television is a privately owned media house based in Uganda’s capital, Kampala
Mutembu who received information about the electoral malpractices rushed to Khamoto trading centre in Bungokho Sub County, Mbale district to ascertain the situation.
“At about 1pm on 18th/Feb/2011, I arrived at the news scene and found groups fighting over the alleged bribery and intimidation of voters by supporters of Werikhe and security operatives clad in civilian clothes” said Mutembu
He said he embarked on filming of the scuffle at the trading center but to his surprise a mob turned against him by grabbing him by the collar, tried to confiscate his camera and during the resistance process, Mutembu was boxed and shuttered his lips leading to bleeding.
“I pleaded with the mob that am only a journalist executing my professional obligations but the beatings continued for over 20minutes,” Mutembu narrated.
Mutembu said he was later rescued by a group of sympathers who whisked him away into a private vehicle. Mutembu then reported the matter to Mbale police station where he recorded a statement and went to hospital where he was diagnosed and got treatment.
Mutembu has therefore told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda that he is waiting to take the matter to court because he has evidence to pursue justice.
HRNJ-Uganda condemns in the strongest term possible the different forms of violence which have been subjected to journalists during this general election. “We are worried at the snail speed the investigations and apprehending of suspects has taken” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
HRNJ Uganda’s legal department will consider taking up the matter failure for the police to act immediately.
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
Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS) television is a privately owned media house based in Uganda’s capital, Kampala
Mutembu who received information about the electoral malpractices rushed to Khamoto trading centre in Bungokho Sub County, Mbale district to ascertain the situation.
“At about 1pm on 18th/Feb/2011, I arrived at the news scene and found groups fighting over the alleged bribery and intimidation of voters by supporters of Werikhe and security operatives clad in civilian clothes” said Mutembu
He said he embarked on filming of the scuffle at the trading center but to his surprise a mob turned against him by grabbing him by the collar, tried to confiscate his camera and during the resistance process, Mutembu was boxed and shuttered his lips leading to bleeding.
“I pleaded with the mob that am only a journalist executing my professional obligations but the beatings continued for over 20minutes,” Mutembu narrated.
Mutembu said he was later rescued by a group of sympathers who whisked him away into a private vehicle. Mutembu then reported the matter to Mbale police station where he recorded a statement and went to hospital where he was diagnosed and got treatment.
Mutembu has therefore told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda that he is waiting to take the matter to court because he has evidence to pursue justice.
HRNJ-Uganda condemns in the strongest term possible the different forms of violence which have been subjected to journalists during this general election. “We are worried at the snail speed the investigations and apprehending of suspects has taken” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala.
HRNJ Uganda’s legal department will consider taking up the matter failure for the police to act immediately.
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 shot, under new threats
Mbale, 19th/Feb/2011; A journalist shot by the military yesterday while covering election fracas in Eastern Uganda is receiving arrest threats on his Hospital bed from the security.
Odeke’s brother Onyango told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that they have received information that security is threatening to arrest Odeke so as to confiscate photographic evidence.
Julius Odeke a freelance photographer for both Red Pepper daily publication and Razor publication limited is currently admitted at Mbale Referral hospital nursing bullet wounds after being shot in the ribs by the military personnel yesterday while covering election fracas in Budadiri west, Mbale district in Eastern Uganda.
“I received a tip of soldiers beating up opposition supporters in Budadiri west on the voting day and decided to rush to the scene. On my arrival I took photographs of the military personnel pouncing on opposition Member of Parliament Nandala Mafabi and his entourage” Odeke told HRNJ-Uganda on his hospital bed.
Odeke said his professional work angered security operatives who started demanding for his camera which he resisted but they started beating him up and later sought refuge in Mafabi’s vehicle.
The soldiers then struggled to break the locked door of the vehicle in order to seize Odeke’s camera but in vain. Soldiers resorted to opening fire direct to the occupants of the vehicle from the back and one of the bullets crushed Odeke’s ribs.
The soldiers travelling in several vehicles including those of Government and said to be under the command of the minister in charge of the presidency Beatrice Wabudeya who is also contesting for Budadiri west parliamentary seat.
Unfortunately Odeke’s health condition is worrying with his unstitched bullet wound bleeding endlessly since he has not received adequate medical treatment from his Mbale Hospital bed.
By the time of this alert, police in Mbale was recording a statement from Odeke from the hospital about the security threats.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) challenges police to investigate security personnel involved in the shooting of the journalist and the alleged threats.
Odeke has been evacuated to unknown hospital as a precaution measure to save his life
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
Odeke’s brother Onyango told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that they have received information that security is threatening to arrest Odeke so as to confiscate photographic evidence.
Julius Odeke a freelance photographer for both Red Pepper daily publication and Razor publication limited is currently admitted at Mbale Referral hospital nursing bullet wounds after being shot in the ribs by the military personnel yesterday while covering election fracas in Budadiri west, Mbale district in Eastern Uganda.
“I received a tip of soldiers beating up opposition supporters in Budadiri west on the voting day and decided to rush to the scene. On my arrival I took photographs of the military personnel pouncing on opposition Member of Parliament Nandala Mafabi and his entourage” Odeke told HRNJ-Uganda on his hospital bed.
Odeke said his professional work angered security operatives who started demanding for his camera which he resisted but they started beating him up and later sought refuge in Mafabi’s vehicle.
The soldiers then struggled to break the locked door of the vehicle in order to seize Odeke’s camera but in vain. Soldiers resorted to opening fire direct to the occupants of the vehicle from the back and one of the bullets crushed Odeke’s ribs.
The soldiers travelling in several vehicles including those of Government and said to be under the command of the minister in charge of the presidency Beatrice Wabudeya who is also contesting for Budadiri west parliamentary seat.
Unfortunately Odeke’s health condition is worrying with his unstitched bullet wound bleeding endlessly since he has not received adequate medical treatment from his Mbale Hospital bed.
By the time of this alert, police in Mbale was recording a statement from Odeke from the hospital about the security threats.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) challenges police to investigate security personnel involved in the shooting of the journalist and the alleged threats.
Odeke has been evacuated to unknown hospital as a precaution measure to save his life
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
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