Kampala, 25th/July/2010; Kingdom fm reporter Rogers Matovu who was arrested and detained since Monday the 19th/July/2010 has been released without a charge
Matovu 22 was arrested by the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) at the African Union Summit which is taking place in Munyonyo Kampala under unclear circumstances.
His release has come at a time when Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is suing Kabalagala police station commanders namely; Bob Kagarura (station commander) and Prossy Namukasa (station’s CID boss) for unlawfully detaining a journalist.
The constitution of Republic of Uganda Article 23(4) b bars security agencies from detaining any body not later than forty-eight hours from the time of his or her arrest.
HRNJ-Uganda has learnt that sickly Matovu was not released on police bond on Saturday morning the 24th/July/2010 neither was he informed about the reasons for his arrest and prolonged detention but he was ordered to go home by police. “I was picked from the police cells at 1am and directed to go home. I insisted that since it was too dark and risky I should be allowed to stay until day time” Rogers Matovu said. I did not sign any bond paper nor was there anybody who stood surety for me
Matovu is under treatment over pneumonia and other related diseases.
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
Log onto our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blopost.com
HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK FOR JOURNALISTS UGANDA (HRNJ-Uganda)
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Uganda Alert: HRNJ-Uganda to sue police commanders for illegal detention
Kampala, 23rd/July/2010; Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is suing Kabalagala police station commanders namely; station commander Bob Kagarura and station’s CID boss Prossy Namukasa for illegally detaining Kingdom fm journalist Rogers Matovu.
Matovu 22 was arrested under unclear circumstances on Monday the 19th/July/2010 in the afternoon by the suspected Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) personnel and dumped him at Kabalagala police station where he (Matovu) has been detained and languishing since then without trial.
“It’s unconstitutional to detain anybody beyond 48 hours without trial and whoever has been behind it will pay for it”. HRNJ-Uganda lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi said. Police should detain a suspect arrested by other agencies on evidence.
HRNJ-Uganda is disturbed with the way the OC CID Prossy Namukasa declined to grant a police bond to a suspect when she was approached by our team on Wednesday the 21st/July/2010 at 08:30am. M/s. Namukasa was reported saying that there was no way police could grant a bail to a suspect who allegedly committed a “grave” offence against the person of the president.
Sources told HRNJ-Uganda that Mr. Matovu recorded a statement on Wednesday the 21st/July/2010 at 3pm and a file was filed at the resident state attorney who could not take action but referred the file to director of public prosecution to sanction it.
“We are also filling an application to magistrate court in Makindye division asking court to order police to release the suspect” Rwakafuuzi 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
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Log on our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Our Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Matovu 22 was arrested under unclear circumstances on Monday the 19th/July/2010 in the afternoon by the suspected Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) personnel and dumped him at Kabalagala police station where he (Matovu) has been detained and languishing since then without trial.
“It’s unconstitutional to detain anybody beyond 48 hours without trial and whoever has been behind it will pay for it”. HRNJ-Uganda lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi said. Police should detain a suspect arrested by other agencies on evidence.
HRNJ-Uganda is disturbed with the way the OC CID Prossy Namukasa declined to grant a police bond to a suspect when she was approached by our team on Wednesday the 21st/July/2010 at 08:30am. M/s. Namukasa was reported saying that there was no way police could grant a bail to a suspect who allegedly committed a “grave” offence against the person of the president.
Sources told HRNJ-Uganda that Mr. Matovu recorded a statement on Wednesday the 21st/July/2010 at 3pm and a file was filed at the resident state attorney who could not take action but referred the file to director of public prosecution to sanction it.
“We are also filling an application to magistrate court in Makindye division asking court to order police to release the suspect” Rwakafuuzi 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
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Log on our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Our Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Uganda Alert: Journalist arrested and detained
Kampala, 20th/July/2010; Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB) has arrested and detained Kingdom fm reporter Rogers Matovu as the African Union summit takes off at Munyonyo in Kampala.
Matovu, a 22 years old had been assigned to cover the summit by his bosses, was arrested yesterday at around 3pm by PDG and he’s allegedly being detained at Kabalagala police station.
“We were informed about his arrest by a fellow journalist at mid-night and we visited him at Kabalagala police station” the radio’s news editor Debbie Mayanja said. They are not sure about the charges.
Sources told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda that Matovu has not been charged pending instructions from the PGB. “We were informed that he (Matovu) is likely to be kept at Kabalagala until the end of the summit which is to last for ten (10) days” sources said. However, Kabalagala police station DPC Walugembe did not deny nor confirmed detention of the said journalist
One of his fellow staff who did not want to be named told HRNJ-Uganda that Matovu allegedly made statements connected to president Museveni’s overstaying in power.
HRNJ-Uganda calls upon the police to produce Matovu to court of law if he has a case to answer or he be released unconditionally.
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
Or log onto our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Blog; http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Matovu, a 22 years old had been assigned to cover the summit by his bosses, was arrested yesterday at around 3pm by PDG and he’s allegedly being detained at Kabalagala police station.
“We were informed about his arrest by a fellow journalist at mid-night and we visited him at Kabalagala police station” the radio’s news editor Debbie Mayanja said. They are not sure about the charges.
Sources told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda that Matovu has not been charged pending instructions from the PGB. “We were informed that he (Matovu) is likely to be kept at Kabalagala until the end of the summit which is to last for ten (10) days” sources said. However, Kabalagala police station DPC Walugembe did not deny nor confirmed detention of the said journalist
One of his fellow staff who did not want to be named told HRNJ-Uganda that Matovu allegedly made statements connected to president Museveni’s overstaying in power.
HRNJ-Uganda calls upon the police to produce Matovu to court of law if he has a case to answer or he be released unconditionally.
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
Or log onto our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Blog; http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Monday, July 19, 2010
Uganda Alert: Reporter Assaulted over asking annoying questions
Kampala, 19th/July/2010: The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Hajji Hassan Basajja Balaba has assaulted radio one reporter Allan Kalanzi for asking annoying questions.
Basajja Balaba and the Mufti, Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje are currently under investigations over the alleged abuse of office and selling off council’s properties.
Kalanzi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that Basajja assaulted him before the beginning of the council’s general meeting on Saturday the 17th/July/2010 at Old Kampala to determine their fate.
Kalanzi further said, he asked two Basajja Balaba whether he would chair the meeting which was to decide his tenure and what he thought about a the much awaited decision. “He grabbed my neck and hit my head with a battle of mineral water several times” Kalanzi added.
Human Right Network for Journalists-Uganda wish to condemn in the strongest term possible the attack made to a reporter by such a reputable personality in the society. “No body has a right to subject any human being to inhuman and degrading treatment” HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
We also call upon the police to investigate Hajji Basajja Balaba and punish him for his unlawful conduct and also the supreme council to make an apology to the media fraternity over the deplorable behavior of their member.
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
Log on to our Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Basajja Balaba and the Mufti, Sheikh Ramathan Mubajje are currently under investigations over the alleged abuse of office and selling off council’s properties.
Kalanzi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that Basajja assaulted him before the beginning of the council’s general meeting on Saturday the 17th/July/2010 at Old Kampala to determine their fate.
Kalanzi further said, he asked two Basajja Balaba whether he would chair the meeting which was to decide his tenure and what he thought about a the much awaited decision. “He grabbed my neck and hit my head with a battle of mineral water several times” Kalanzi added.
Human Right Network for Journalists-Uganda wish to condemn in the strongest term possible the attack made to a reporter by such a reputable personality in the society. “No body has a right to subject any human being to inhuman and degrading treatment” HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala said.
We also call upon the police to investigate Hajji Basajja Balaba and punish him for his unlawful conduct and also the supreme council to make an apology to the media fraternity over the deplorable behavior of their member.
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
Log on to our Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or Blog: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Friday, July 16, 2010
Uganda Alert: Parliament passes Interception of Communications Bill
Kampala, 16th/07/2010: The Parliament of Uganda on Wednesday the 14th/07/2010 passed the highly contested Interception of Communication Bill locally referred to as “Phone tapping Bill” authorizing government security agencies to tap private conversations as part of wider efforts to combat terrorism-related offences in the country.
Legislators also passed a key amendment to the Bill, making it compulsory for all mobile phone subscribers in the country to register their SIM cards for security purposes. “The whole idea of registering SIM cards is to put an end to the current situation where [criminals] misuse SIM cards and cannot even be traced,” Security Minister Amama Mbabazi said.
Mr. Mbabazi has long argued that the new legislation would interrupt terrorism and related crimes which are increasingly being coordinated through modern telecommunications and the Internet.
The passing of the new Bill comes three days after Somali terrorist group, al-Shabaab, on Monday claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bomb attacks in Kampala which killed 76 people watching the World Cup final.
If the President assents to the new law, the minister for Security will work out procedures to be followed by all telecom companies operating in the country to expedite the registration of SIM cards. A subscriber identity module (SIM) on a removable SIM card securely stores the service-subscriber key used to identify a subscriber on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers).
In another critical amendment in the Bill, MPs unanimously voted to prevent the minister from issuing a warrant to tap private conversations and instead gave these powers to judges.
The Regulation of Interception of Commutations Bill, 2007 also seeks to provide for lawful interception and monitoring of certain communications in the course of their transmission through telecommunication, postal or any other related service in Uganda.
The House passed another amendment which was suggested by Soroti Woman MP, Alice Alaso (FDC), authorizing phone-tapping by security agents deployed in the fight against drug and human trafficking. However, the cost of communication in the country could go up after some lawmakers led by Mr Patrick Oboi (Kumi) lost their bid to delete Clause 8 of the Bill, which imposes the monetary cost of installing phone-tapping equipment on the telecom companies.
The cost of communication is already a burden to our people,” Mr. Oboi said, adding: “If we don’t delete this provision that mandates telecom companies to install phone-tapping machines at their own cost, they will pass the cost to the consumers.”
The Bill provides for the establishing of a monitoring centre which will be manned, operated and controlled by designated technical experts appointed by the Security minister. When the new law comes into operation, information gleaned from lawfully intercepted communication will become admissible as evidence in court.
Activists since 2007 have challenge the bill saying that if passed it will infringe on the right to privacy.
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
Log on to our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
Legislators also passed a key amendment to the Bill, making it compulsory for all mobile phone subscribers in the country to register their SIM cards for security purposes. “The whole idea of registering SIM cards is to put an end to the current situation where [criminals] misuse SIM cards and cannot even be traced,” Security Minister Amama Mbabazi said.
Mr. Mbabazi has long argued that the new legislation would interrupt terrorism and related crimes which are increasingly being coordinated through modern telecommunications and the Internet.
The passing of the new Bill comes three days after Somali terrorist group, al-Shabaab, on Monday claimed responsibility for Sunday’s bomb attacks in Kampala which killed 76 people watching the World Cup final.
If the President assents to the new law, the minister for Security will work out procedures to be followed by all telecom companies operating in the country to expedite the registration of SIM cards. A subscriber identity module (SIM) on a removable SIM card securely stores the service-subscriber key used to identify a subscriber on mobile telephony devices (such as mobile phones and computers).
In another critical amendment in the Bill, MPs unanimously voted to prevent the minister from issuing a warrant to tap private conversations and instead gave these powers to judges.
The Regulation of Interception of Commutations Bill, 2007 also seeks to provide for lawful interception and monitoring of certain communications in the course of their transmission through telecommunication, postal or any other related service in Uganda.
The House passed another amendment which was suggested by Soroti Woman MP, Alice Alaso (FDC), authorizing phone-tapping by security agents deployed in the fight against drug and human trafficking. However, the cost of communication in the country could go up after some lawmakers led by Mr Patrick Oboi (Kumi) lost their bid to delete Clause 8 of the Bill, which imposes the monetary cost of installing phone-tapping equipment on the telecom companies.
The cost of communication is already a burden to our people,” Mr. Oboi said, adding: “If we don’t delete this provision that mandates telecom companies to install phone-tapping machines at their own cost, they will pass the cost to the consumers.”
The Bill provides for the establishing of a monitoring centre which will be manned, operated and controlled by designated technical experts appointed by the Security minister. When the new law comes into operation, information gleaned from lawfully intercepted communication will become admissible as evidence in court.
Activists since 2007 have challenge the bill saying that if passed it will infringe on the right to privacy.
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
Log on to our website: www.hrnjuganda.org
Or http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
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