By Hannah Marion Namukasa
Uganda Journalists Association UJA through its spokesperson Kabuye Ronald has given a detailed account of how a senior journalist Lemisa Moses who works with Bukedde Paper- Vision group was allegedly tortured in coma by two police officer at Kapapaali Mulago Police post while in line of duty on Thursday 22 February 2024.
The latest update indicate that Lemisa Moses has been admitted at St. Stephen COU hospital Mpererwe and put on oxygen after he dropped to faint again in his car on Friday afternoon at the health facility compound as he had gone for further medication.
Kabuye through the press release asserts that journalist Lemisa Moses was brutally arrested by two of the many Police officers that had gathered at that Police post for an eviction operation as he followed up a certain story around the same area and charged with criminal trespass on the Police post.
“What makes it very disturbing to us is that the arresting officers deliberately pushed down Lemisa to the ground where his head was hit hard, leaving him with sustained bruises on it plus other body parts as well as damaging his camera, despite his identification to them.
His work tools; a camera, phone and identification card were taken away from him by the same police officers on top of picking money from the journalist’s pocket before he was thrown inside the police cells where he lost conscious and fainted almost to death.
Shuddering to note is that, no care was given to him by any of the police officers while inside until when the other already detained suspects put a strong demand that he be moved out and taken to the nearby health facility to save his dying life which was later allowed.
It is very unfortunate that the police officers who are charged with the duty of observing the law can be seen breaking it with impunity.” Reads a statement in parts
Kabuye said that the torture that was occasioned on journalist Lemisa is not only being illegal but also a blatant violation of his individual rights and press freedom in general.
UJA has now called out the inspector General of Police IGP to investigate the two errant police officers and reprimand them in one-week time from Friday, 23, February 2024.
They also demand that the errant officers apologize to Lemisa, compensate his damaged camera, foot his medical bill and return his taken money.
UJA has also threatened to explore other means including mobilizing a demonstration of journalists against increased impunity on them and seeking for other legal redress if no response is made in reference to the matter.
