Rakai, 12th/September/2010; Commercial motor cyclists locally known as bodabodas in Rakai district have beaten a Top radio correspondent Paul Kiggundu to death.
Kiggundu joined the Masaka based Top Radio eight months ago as an area for Rakai district in Southern Buganda.
The cyclists pounced on him when he was recording scenes of demolition of the homestead of a suspected motorcycle (bodabodas) robber Frank Kagayi who they also accused of killing their fellow cyclist Sengooba Eddie.
Sengooba was hired by two men on Thursday 9th/09/2010, he was later discovered dead and body dumped at Ntovu village, Nkenge Parish, Kasaali subcounty in Rakai district. Police in Kasensero yesterday –Saturday the 11th/09/2010 arrested the suspects Frank Kagayi and one Muwonge with the deceased’ motorcycle.
Kagayi and Muwonge confessed to having commited the murder and robbery.
It is on this basis that Sengooba’s fellow cyclists descended on Kagayi’s home and razed it to the ground. They never spared Kiggundu the journalist because they suspected him of spying for police in the area. Despite his efforts to identify himself as a journalist, they beat Kiggundu into comma.
He died before he could be rushed to Kalisizo government hospital to get emergency treatment after the area health centre referred him to a major hospital due to over breeding. “This is very wrong because you cannot use injustice to get justice” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Board Chairman Robert Ssempala said.
Kiggundu is the second media practitioner to be mobbed up in a period less than eight years after Wilbroad Kasujja a news anchor at a community radio Buwama who was raped and killed in 2004. But sadly, no conclusive investigations have been made and produced.
As a journalist rights body, HRNJ-Uganda condemns in strongest terms possible this act of people taking the law into their hands.
We demand that police should act steadily fast to apprehend and bring all the perpetrators of this mob justice to book.
Kiggundu survived with one wife and four children. May his Soul Rest in Peace.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS UGANDA (HRNJ-Uganda)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Court summons journalist’s attacker
Kampala, 09th/09/2010; Buganda road court has summoned National Resistance Movement (NRM) Entrepreneur league leader Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba to answer charges of assaulting the New Vision photo journalist.
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba also the chairman Uganda Muslim Supreme Council on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the on-going conference of the NRM special organs at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Basajjabala was allegedly angered by being photographed by Kintu.
The summons issued today 09th/09/2010 at around 3:30pm by Grade One Magistrate Buganda road court Francis Kobusheshe require Basajjabalaba l to appear before court on 17th/09/2010. “Welcome the court action. It’s an achievement in our struggle to end impunity in Uganda” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
Prosecution has also preferred bribery charges against Basajjabalaba. Sources told HRNJ-Uganda the file has been referred to anti-graft court.
HRNJ-Uganda calls on the judiciary which is temple of justice to expedite the hearing of the case.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba also the chairman Uganda Muslim Supreme Council on 06th/09/2010 slapped and boxed and shattered Arthur Kintu’s lips at the on-going conference of the NRM special organs at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Basajjabala was allegedly angered by being photographed by Kintu.
The summons issued today 09th/09/2010 at around 3:30pm by Grade One Magistrate Buganda road court Francis Kobusheshe require Basajjabalaba l to appear before court on 17th/09/2010. “Welcome the court action. It’s an achievement in our struggle to end impunity in Uganda” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
Prosecution has also preferred bribery charges against Basajjabalaba. Sources told HRNJ-Uganda the file has been referred to anti-graft court.
HRNJ-Uganda calls on the judiciary which is temple of justice to expedite the hearing of the case.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http//:hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
RULING PARTY LEADER ASSAULTS PHOTO JOURNALIST.
Kampala 07th/09/2010; Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has slapped and boxed a senior journalist Arthur Kintu at the on-going conference of the NRM special organs at Namboole stadium in Kira Town Council, Wakiso district.
Basajjabalaba is the party’s chairman of the entrepreneurs’ league which brings together businessmen allied to the NRM.
Kintu a photo journalist with the government owned news paper the New Vision is the second journalist to fall victim of Basajjabala’ brutality while on duty after Ivan Kalanzi a journalist with Radio Two (locally known as Akaboozi) who he roughed up two months ago at the Uganda Moslem Supreme Council headquarters at Old Kampala.
“We are concerned about the safety and security of journalists in Uganda ahead of the 2011 general elections. Cases committed against journalists are likely to double the figure registered last year. It is very absurd.” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Board Chairperson Robert Ssempala said.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that Basajjabalaba was angered by being photographed yet earlier on he was allegedly bribing voters ahead of their special organ party elections.
“I was photographing Basajjabala upon learning that he had been re- elected to the post. He angrily charged at me asking who had given me the permission to take his photos. He slapped me twice and boxed me in the face. He shattered my lips and started bleeding all over”, Kintu said.
Kintu says that, “As an accredited journalist i did not need Basajjabalaba’s permission to take pictures.”
Basajjabalaba is one of the many politicians and other leaders who have meted their anger and desperation onto journalists while protecting themselves from being exposed for abuse of offices.“Worst of all, such individuals use their economic or political muscle to intimidate the journalists’ respective media houses from pursuing the matter to courts of law,” Ssempala Added.
HRNJ-Uganda condemns in the strongest terms possible Basajjabalaba’s violent acts against journalists. We call on police to expeditiously investigate the case and take Basajjabalaba to court to answer his deeds, failure of which a private prosecution case will be lodged in court by HRNJ-Uganda.
Kintu has reported the matter to police and an inquiry file opened at Namboole Police post under number SD-Ref: 25/06/09/2010.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Basajjabalaba is the party’s chairman of the entrepreneurs’ league which brings together businessmen allied to the NRM.
Kintu a photo journalist with the government owned news paper the New Vision is the second journalist to fall victim of Basajjabala’ brutality while on duty after Ivan Kalanzi a journalist with Radio Two (locally known as Akaboozi) who he roughed up two months ago at the Uganda Moslem Supreme Council headquarters at Old Kampala.
“We are concerned about the safety and security of journalists in Uganda ahead of the 2011 general elections. Cases committed against journalists are likely to double the figure registered last year. It is very absurd.” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Board Chairperson Robert Ssempala said.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that Basajjabalaba was angered by being photographed yet earlier on he was allegedly bribing voters ahead of their special organ party elections.
“I was photographing Basajjabala upon learning that he had been re- elected to the post. He angrily charged at me asking who had given me the permission to take his photos. He slapped me twice and boxed me in the face. He shattered my lips and started bleeding all over”, Kintu said.
Kintu says that, “As an accredited journalist i did not need Basajjabalaba’s permission to take pictures.”
Basajjabalaba is one of the many politicians and other leaders who have meted their anger and desperation onto journalists while protecting themselves from being exposed for abuse of offices.“Worst of all, such individuals use their economic or political muscle to intimidate the journalists’ respective media houses from pursuing the matter to courts of law,” Ssempala Added.
HRNJ-Uganda condemns in the strongest terms possible Basajjabalaba’s violent acts against journalists. We call on police to expeditiously investigate the case and take Basajjabalaba to court to answer his deeds, failure of which a private prosecution case will be lodged in court by HRNJ-Uganda.
Kintu has reported the matter to police and an inquiry file opened at Namboole Police post under number SD-Ref: 25/06/09/2010.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Monday, September 6, 2010
HRNJ-Uganda Alert: Two radio reporters taken hostage
Mukono, 6th/Sept/2010; Striking workers of Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL) have taken two radio journalists hostage.
Mukono district based reporters; Moses Mawejje a reporter with radio Simba and Herbert Mugaga a reporter with K fm were intercepted and kidnapped inside a thick sugarcane plantation on Friday 3rd/09/2010 by angry workers.
Workers laid down their tools over the week-end protesting against poor remuneration. SCOUL is among the three sugar factories in Uganda based in Mukono district, about 50 kilometers east of Kampala.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that striking workers blocked Jinja – Kampala highway which actions triggered reporters to visit the news scene. Upon touring the area, reporters fell into an ambush of striking workers who had hidden in sugar cane plantation.
“We were pulled off the motorcycle we were using and impounded it. The workers were armed with machetes and sticks which they used to assault and manhandle us. We were accused of being sent by SCOUL management to spy on them” Mugaga narrated. They spent about two hours in captivity.
HRNJ-Uganda expresses fears over the increasing attacks against journalists in Uganda coming from all corners of society ahead of 2011 general elections. “Journalists currently cannot bank on the protection from the public which they serve. A number of cases have been committed by members of the public particularly this year” HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
The reporters who sustained injuries later escaped from captivity.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Mukono district based reporters; Moses Mawejje a reporter with radio Simba and Herbert Mugaga a reporter with K fm were intercepted and kidnapped inside a thick sugarcane plantation on Friday 3rd/09/2010 by angry workers.
Workers laid down their tools over the week-end protesting against poor remuneration. SCOUL is among the three sugar factories in Uganda based in Mukono district, about 50 kilometers east of Kampala.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that striking workers blocked Jinja – Kampala highway which actions triggered reporters to visit the news scene. Upon touring the area, reporters fell into an ambush of striking workers who had hidden in sugar cane plantation.
“We were pulled off the motorcycle we were using and impounded it. The workers were armed with machetes and sticks which they used to assault and manhandle us. We were accused of being sent by SCOUL management to spy on them” Mugaga narrated. They spent about two hours in captivity.
HRNJ-Uganda expresses fears over the increasing attacks against journalists in Uganda coming from all corners of society ahead of 2011 general elections. “Journalists currently cannot bank on the protection from the public which they serve. A number of cases have been committed by members of the public particularly this year” HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
The reporters who sustained injuries later escaped from captivity.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Police grills journalist for over 5 hours
Kampala, 01st/09/2010; the Uganda Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has grilled Radio Two commonly referred at as Akaboozi journalist Richard Mivule for over 5 hours over incitement to violence.
Mivule in his 50s who hosts a mid-morning talk-show between 9am to 11am weekdays was accused of having hosted an opposition member of parliament for Kampala Central division and shadow attorney general Erias Lukwago during September riots that claimed lives of more than 40 people.“These cases are meant to silence and intimidate the media ahead of 2011 general elections. The state should be reminded about its mandate to protect and uphold the right to freedom of expression and press freedom” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Board Chairman Robert Ssempala said.
The September 2009 riots occurred following the blocking of the King of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II by government from touring his county of Bugerere which is one of the 18 counties which make up his kingdom.
Buganda is one of the biggest ethnic groups in Uganda.
Mivule accompanied by his lawyer Sebuliba Jordan Kiwanuka of F. Mukasa & Company Advocates was grilled from 11:30am to 5pm much as he reached the CID Headquarters at 9:30am. He was summoned by Moses Sakira and interrogated by a two-man team led by detective Birungi Milton
Radio Two is one of the private owned radios that were closed down during demonstration. Others included catholic based radio Sapientia, Ssuubi fm which have since been re-opened and Buganda Kingdom’s Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) 88.8 and 89.2fm which remain closed to date.
“Am surprised that police interrogated me about matters spoken by another person I hosted a year ago. This is not fair but am sure I committed no crime” Mivule said.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) condemns the unnecessary interrogation of journalists by police which tantamount to torture.
He recorded a statement and was released without a charge. He will report to police on notice.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Mivule in his 50s who hosts a mid-morning talk-show between 9am to 11am weekdays was accused of having hosted an opposition member of parliament for Kampala Central division and shadow attorney general Erias Lukwago during September riots that claimed lives of more than 40 people.“These cases are meant to silence and intimidate the media ahead of 2011 general elections. The state should be reminded about its mandate to protect and uphold the right to freedom of expression and press freedom” Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) Board Chairman Robert Ssempala said.
The September 2009 riots occurred following the blocking of the King of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II by government from touring his county of Bugerere which is one of the 18 counties which make up his kingdom.
Buganda is one of the biggest ethnic groups in Uganda.
Mivule accompanied by his lawyer Sebuliba Jordan Kiwanuka of F. Mukasa & Company Advocates was grilled from 11:30am to 5pm much as he reached the CID Headquarters at 9:30am. He was summoned by Moses Sakira and interrogated by a two-man team led by detective Birungi Milton
Radio Two is one of the private owned radios that were closed down during demonstration. Others included catholic based radio Sapientia, Ssuubi fm which have since been re-opened and Buganda Kingdom’s Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) 88.8 and 89.2fm which remain closed to date.
“Am surprised that police interrogated me about matters spoken by another person I hosted a year ago. This is not fair but am sure I committed no crime” Mivule said.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) condemns the unnecessary interrogation of journalists by police which tantamount to torture.
He recorded a statement and was released without a charge. He will report to police on notice.
For more information contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road, Mengo- Bulange, Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Preparatory School
Tel: +256-414-667627 / +256-701-810079
E-mail: info@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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