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Pictures of the Human Rights Training

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:30:09 +0100

media group slaps news blackout on district chairman over terrorism remarks gabriel x

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:27:00 +0100

Media practitioners from Kitgum district under their umbrella body Kitgum District Media Practitioners’ Association (KIMEPA) have slapped a news blackout on the Kitgum district chairperson, Luka Nyeko for alleged persistent attacks on the media. In their statement to the media and other stakeholders, dated 19^th/September/2012, KIMEPA accused Nyeko of attacking a Kitgum town based radio station Might Fire FM that several of its staff was engaged in partisan activities and promoting opposition interests in the district. He accused the radio of being anti government, courting urban terrorism, inciting violence and causing unnecessary alarm. He threatened the radio staff and management with arrest over the alleged crimes.

On 18^th of September 2012, Nyeko also ordered two journalists out of a nodding disease review meeting at the district council hall without tangible explanation. They included Komakech Steven of Mighty Fire FM and Jimmy Wokorach Oboi of the Vision Group who doubles as the chairperson of the media association.

Might Fire is a Christian founded radio station broadcasting predominantly in Luo. It covers the districts of Acholi sub region, parts of South Sudan, West Nile, Karamoja and Lango sub regions.

KIMEPA accused Nyeko of persistently using the district council sessions and other public events to criminalize the media. “Some of the most salient verbal attacks include among others; labeling media houses anti-regime, accusing the staff of Mighty Fire Radio for courting urban terrorism….” Read the statement.

KIMEPA vice chairperson, Jimmy Wokorach Oboi told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) that the media blackout commenced on 20^th September 2012 and would remain in place until the chairperson unconditionally apologizes to the media practitioners in writing. However when contacted by HRNJ-Uganda, Nyeko ruled out giving any such apologies, “I don’t have a problem with Might Fire FM, but it seems they have a problem with me. In fact, they are terrorizing the people of Kitgum as a radio. I will never apologize to them. Apologize for what? That’s something that is impossible. Let them fight and I will now come out as the district chairman and engage them with full force.” Nyeko retorted

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

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:25:23 +0100

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

Journalist Objects to Tendering of Audio Recordings in Court.

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:20:39 +0100

A Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio journalist Ronald Ssembuusi has objected to an audio recording on a CD which he said was not authentic. Ssembuusi, through his lawyer Catherine Anite of Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda told court that the CD should not be tendered in as prosecution exhibit since its authenticity was questionable. It did not bear the particulars of the alleged recording. This transpired in Kalangala Magistrates Court as prosecution produced its last witness detective ASP Emmanuel Mbonimpa attached to the police’ media crimes department at the CID head quarters who testified that on 22/November/2011, he was informed by the former OC CID for Kalangala, Joseph Ssenabulya of a defamation case against Ssembuusi vide Kalangala CRB 1262/2011. He further testified that Ssenabulya wrote to the chairperson of Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) requesting for CD recordings of CBS news of 17/November/2011 on 88.8 FM. And on 08th December 2011, Mbonimpa allegedly received a phone from UCC to pick the CD. This marked the closure of the prosecution case after producing several witnesses who among others included Daniel Kikoola- the complainant, Tindyebwa David -a fisherman and Kaweesa Gibril.

The presiding magistrate, Kenneth Gimungu adjourned the matter to 14^th November 2012 to give his ruling on whether the CD recording should be tendered in court as prosecution exhibit. Kikoola dragged Ssembuusi -a correspondent for the Buganda Kingdom’ private radio for Kalangala district in the Central Uganda region to court accusing him of defamation when he reported a story which aired on CBS radio on 17th/November/2011 that he was being investigated for alleged involvement in the disappearance of solar panels. Over 80 solar panels were donated by the African Development Bank through the ministry of water and environment in 2010 to help circulate clean and safe water in Kalangala Town Council. But about 40 (forty) of them went missing. Since November 2011, police have recovered some of them. HRNJ-Uganda is impressed by the expeditious way in which this matter is being handled by the Court and we hope that justice will be delivered at the end of the process.

Media Council’s order to ban a play threatens freedom of expression

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 11:17:40 +0100

Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is dismayed by Media Council’s directive to suspend a play „the State of the Nation ku Ggirikiti". The act is a serious threat to freedom of expression and intended to silence critical voices in the Uganda.

Article 29 (1) (a) of the Constitution guarantees every Ugandan the right to freedom of speech and expression. They are free to express themselves through songs, writings, plays or any other form they choose provided it does not infringe on other people‟s freedom.

On 29th/October/2012, the secretary of the Media Council, Pius Mwinganisa instructed the directors of the play Bakayimbira Dramactors and Afri-Talent theatre groups to immediately stop staging a play until the Council has done a “review”.

The Media Council is a statutory body established by the Press and Journalists Act, 1995 headed by someone appointed by a minister of Information and National guidance whose main responsibility is to ensure freedom of the press and regulate mass media in Uganda.

The Council in its communication sited the Press and Journalist Act which empowers it “to refuse a film, videotape, or apparatus to be shown, exhibited or acted for public consumption”.

John Ssegawa one of the directors of the groups that authored the play told HRNJ-Uganda that the group upon receiving the letter submitted the script to the council on October 29th / 2012 but no response. “It is only 40 pages but how come they have decided to keep quiet? The theme of the play is reconciliation. Acting is our job, so we will go ahead with the staging the play over the week-end”