Journalist under harassment over a political talk show

Masindi, 26^th/Sept/2011; Radio Kitara talk-show host Samuel Kajumba is under harassment by security officials in Masindi District over a talk show which they claim incited sections of the public.

Kajumba a.k.a Lucky Sam hosts a Sunday political talk-show ‘Kikukwasireho’ meaning ‘What Concerns You” in English aired from Mid-day to 3pm. The show all political related issues in a local perspective.

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that on September 18^th, Kajuma hosted a show which discussed the manner under which the army arbitrarily arrested one Roger Musinguzi, a proprietor of a bar in Masindi town. Musinguzi was allegedly accused of deserting the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).

Since then Kajumba has been undergoing intimidation and receiving orders from district security committee to make an apology.

Kajumba told HRNJ-Uganda that during the show callers and himself condemned the brutal arrest of Musinguzi and that he wondered why several army deserters including those who are in Rwanda were not being arrested the same way they have done to Musinguzi

He added that he was summoned by the Masindi District Security Committee headed by Resident District Commissioner Rtd. David Matovu on Wednesday the 21^st/Sept/2011 explain the statements he made during the show.

RDC Matovu accused Kajumba for misleading the public and causing unnecessary confusion to discredit the otherwise good image of security.

“I was intimidated particularly by Masindi Resident District Commissioner Rtd. Maj. Matovu and threatened me to be taken to military court. He forced me to make both a verbal and written apologies to him (RDC) which haven’t written to date” said Kajumba.

Kajumba said due to fear of being arrested and taken to military court, he is considering apologizing.

Kajumba is the second journalist to be harassed by the same Maj. Matovu after the Red Pepper reporter Tony Kizito who was arbitrarily arrested and detained in Mukono police station before RDC Matovu was transferred to Masindi district. 

When HRNJ-Uganda contacted the Director of Kitara FM Abdu Alifaijo Kiirya who also attended the meeting, he declined to comment on the treatment of the presenter

“It’s a shame that such a high ranking public officer can turn his office into a judicial body to intimidate a journalist. He must understand that offending sections of the public must be justified and cannot stand alone without a complainant. The RDC should not be the complainant and the judge” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

He added that if RDC Matovu was offended by the talk-show, he should have used lawful means to complaint against the journalist.

HRNJ-Uganda stresses the need for the government to organise induction courses for its RDCs in order to internalize their constitutional mandate of monitoring government programmes as per article 203 (2) of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda.

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

Book author in detention over a publication that called for the president to leave power

Kireka, 21st/Sept/2011; Vincent Nzaramba an author of the book that called for president Museveni to relinquish power is in detention at the feared Rapid Response Unit (RRU) headquarters in Kireka, a Kampala suburb.

Nzaramba who

Published a book under the title “People power-battle the almighty general” was arrested on 1 7th/Sept/2011 by a group of more than 10 plain clothed security operatives from his home in Kisalosalo zone, Kyebando parish  Kawempe division, Kampala district.

  

 This was the

Second book after publishing the first one in January 2011. His first book focused on the National Resistance Movement’Organisation (NRM-O) manifesto which he (Nzaramba) used when he was contesting for Kawempe South parliamentary seat on the ruling party in the recently concluded general elections.

Human Rights

 Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that before the arrest, Nzaramba received a call at 8:30am (local time) from his colleague Musa Bwanika who allegedly informed him that there was somebody who wanted to talk to him. Immediately Nzaramba went to Bwanika’s residence which is also located in the same zone.

Eye witness

 Told HRNJ-Uganda that Nzaramba came back home at around 1:30pm in a convoy of two police vehicles. “They searched his home for about two (2) hours and confiscated 106 copies of the book and receipts he indicating that he received US$ 300 through Western Union”. He was later driven away to RRU headquarters in Kireka

Since his

 Arrest on 17th/Sept/2011, he’s being detained at Kireka without a charge neither the suspect recording a statement.

When he met

 His wife Gloria in the company of his lawyer Anthony Wameli on 20th/September/2011at 4:30pm, Nzaramba alleged torture being orchestrated by one Musa Walugembe (an operative at RRU). He was reported on a hung-strike over the alleged threats to be shot received from operatives and how he feeds from one plate with a dog.

“He told us

 That upon arriving at RRU on the 17th/Sept/2011, operative asked him to remove his shoes and was forced to step on a sharp object which caused a big cut on his left foot” said the wife Gloria

Article 24

 Of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda states that “No person shall be subjected to any form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.

HRNJ-Uganda

 Has been reliably informed that operatives drove Nzaramba at mid-night on19th/Sept/2011 to the premises of the printing press located at Nasser road in Kampala but it was closed at that time.

Sources

 Added that one resident lawyer based at RRU one Kanaalu told the family that they didn’t know that the suspect had spent in cells beyond 48 hours as required by the constitution. He was quoted allegedly “blaming the family for taking long to complain”  

  

“Police is

 Illegally detaining Nzaramba because he has not disowned his opinion expressed in the book. We query the actions of an institution which is supposed to keep law and order because it abuses the same laws it should protect. It’s very clear that police is violating the law with impunity and top commanders of RRU should be held responsible for these actions” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

HRNJ-Uganda

 Condemns in the strongest term possible the continued detention and persecution of Mr. Nzaramba for only expressing his opinion.

We call for the

 Intervention of the United Nations Office of High Commission for Human Rights and the Uganda Human Rights Commission to invoke their mandate over protecting people’s rights and freedoms.

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

Local council leaders move to bar media activities in the district

 Kalangala, 8th/Sept/2011; Plans are under way for the Kalangala district leadership to pass a resolution which bans media activities in the district.

 Kalangala district is found on the shores of Lake Victoria.  In the district executive meeting held on September 6th 2011 at Kalangala district offices, the district leadership headed by Chairperson Willy Lugoloobi resolved that a draft resolution will be presented before the council expected to meet later this month and pass it.

If the council passes the resolution it will automatically become a by-law where journalist will be arrested and prosecution for the offence of trace passing in the district.

 In the same meeting journalists were manhandled while being thrown out.

Under

Decentralization system which was introduced in late 1990s in Uganda, a district is a government in its own which makes by laws to policing its affairs.

 The problem

 Stem from a story aired on radios on 27th/Aug/2011 which reported that the district was allegedly grabbing Buganda Kingdom land and it destroyed the Kingdom’s model garden to construct the district head quarters.

Since 2006,

 The district has been struggling to find space to construct offices after receiving nearly two (2) billion shillings from development partners. In 2009, the National Forest Authority (NFA) allegedly blocked the district from encroaching on one of the forests in the area.

 HRNJ-Uganda

 Contacted Mr. Lugoloobi said the district move targets one journalist who mixed facts in the story. “We do not have problems with journalists in the district or those in other parts of Uganda but only that one who reported the story and refused to charge it after I called him” said Lugoloobi

 Another

 Story was aired on radios in July 2011 about an expectant mother who died with her unborn baby in a lodge after being chased away by a medical worker from the Kalangala health center IV on the ground of no medicine. The media also reported that officials in the district report on duty on Tuesday and close offices on Thursday since they live on the main land.

 “We do not condone the unethical behavior of some journalists but we are opposed to the step taken by the district administration because it will not solve the problem rather worsening it by denying people information which concerns them” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala 

 He added

 That such situations do not warrant a by-law instead the district should use the existing institutions like the Independent Media Council of Uganda (IMCU) which checks on the practice of the professionals.

Journalists

 Who talked to Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) testified against district officials for issuing threats to them. “I called to the district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for a clarification but he declined saying he had orders not to talk to journalists and later referred me to the district chairperson. When I called Mr. Lugoloobi and after introducing myself to him, he hanged up on me “said one of the journalists who feared to be Mentioned because his safety.

 HRNJ-Uganda

 Calls on the IMCU to intervene and prevail over the matter. We also appeal to all media in Uganda to invest enough airtime to sensitize the public over the importance of the media in a democratic society and its role.

 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

Journalist appeared in court, remanded until September 22nd

Kampala, 8th/09/2011, Rhino FM journalist Augustine okello who is on treason charges has appeared before court today and remanded to Luzira prison.

This is the fourth time when he’s appearing in court for formation and his case has been adjourned to 22^nd September, 2011.

 Okello was brought to court through the habeas corpus and he’s likely to be committed to high court for trail in October this year. He first appeared before grade one magistrate Grace Balintuma who read charges and remanded him to Luzira prison.

“It’s still tricky for us to apply for bail for him because he has not completed the six months mandatory period on remand which is supposed to be served by anyone on a capital offence” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that Okello file case has not yet been accessed by the defence lawyer despite efforts to ask the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to avail it.

It was however reported to court by the state prosecutor Happiness Ainebyona who is handling the case that the file was not yet with the DPP and that she had only court proceedings on the file.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) once again calls upon the judiciary to consider circumstances under which Okello was arrested and the alleged torture so that his case can be expeditiously handled.

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 appeared in court, remanded until September 22nd

Kampala, 8th/09/2011, Rhino FM journalist Augustine okello who is on treason charges has appeared before court today and remanded to Luzira prison.

This is the fourth time when he’s appearing in court for formation and his case has been adjourned to 22^nd September, 2011.

 Okello was brought to court through the habeas corpus and he’s likely to be committed to high court for trail in October this year. He first appeared before grade one magistrate Grace Balintuma who read charges and remanded him to Luzira prison.

“It’s still tricky for us to apply for bail for him because he has not completed the six months mandatory period on remand which is supposed to be served by anyone on a capital offence” said HRNJ-Uganda Programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that Okello file case has not yet been accessed by the defence lawyer despite efforts to ask the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to avail it.

It was however reported to court by the state prosecutor Happiness Ainebyona who is handling the case that the file was not yet with the DPP and that she had only court proceedings on the file.

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) once again calls upon the judiciary to consider circumstances under which Okello was arrested and the alleged torture so that his case can be expeditiously handled.

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