By Mukembo Wilfred
Journalists under their uniting body, Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) have petitioned the inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola demanding him to retract with a public apology his derogatory statements against journalists or resign.
On Friday, 8th, January, 2021, IGP Ochola said that they will continue to beat journalists and he will never apologize for that since they do it to stop from covering danger.
Addressing journalists at UJA headquarters in Kawempe Division, Kampala, with some of them holding placards inscribed with dissatisfactory messages against Ochola’s conduct, UJA president Mathias Rukundo strongly condemned Ochola’s derogatory statements before asking him to do the honorable thing of either retracting his statements with a public apology or resign.
“Protection of journalists as citizens of this Country and Press freedom by the security agencies is their Constitutional duty, and therefore the IGP should not justify attacks with impunity.
In the light of the above, we therefore demand that he retracts his statements with an apology which we feel they are not only unlawful but likely to perpetrate more brutality against journalists if not withdrawn.
We call upon human rights champions and institutions including the civil society, international media and all Ugandans to support this cause.” Said Rukundo
In the same way, the Association’s legal advisor Erias Nalukoola Luyimbazi said Ochola’s derogatory statements might be taken as instructions to his subordinates and in the vein seen to qualify, justify and sanction further brutality against journalists.
Nalukoola warned that failure by Ochola to retract the statement will led them to seek for the intervention of the appointing authority and all possible legal redress from courts of law.
“Ochola being the head of the Uganda Police Force, all statements made by him are taken as INSTRUCTIONS to his subordinates and in the same vein seen to QUALIFY, JUSTIFY and SANCTION further actions of torture, violence and total abuse of human rights and freedoms of Journalists by Police which puts Mass Media and Journalism as a whole in a free and democratic society at risk in Uganda.
The purpose hereof is to demand that you immediately Retract and/or Withdraw the impugned statements referred to above and failure of which we demand for your immediate Resignation. We shall further seek intervention from the Appointing Authority should you fail to heed to our demands and possible legal redress from the Courts of Law.” Said Nalukoola
UJA says since the nomination of the presidential candidates on 2nd November, 2020, a number of violations by the members of the security forces including the Police and Military personnel were documented ranging from physical attacks, obstruction, threats, damage of the equipment amongst other and they include;
I. On November 3rd, 2020, Vision Group journalist, Ronald Kakooza was brutally arrested while covering events at the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) headquarters in Najjanakumbi.
II. On the same day, a group of journalists who were covering presidential nominations at Kyambogo were pepper-sprayed by the security personnel.
III. On November 5th, Moses Bwayo, a freelance journalist was reportedly shot at with a rubber bullet and sustained facial injuries while covering candidate Robert Kyagulanyi’s journey from Kibuli mosque to his party headquarters in Kamwokya.
IV. On November 12th 2020, the NBS TV crew covering Kyagulanyi’s campaign in Northern Uganda was attacked by unknown assailants who vandalised their car and stole their property including a laptop and phones. This team included Daniel Lutaaya and Thomas Kitimbo.
V. On November 18th 2020, Ashiraf Kasirye, a journalist with Ghetto Media was brutally arrested and sustained injuries that left him hospitalized.
VI. On the same day, Sam Balikowa, a journalist with City FM and Nile TV, who like Ashiraf, was covering Kyagulanyi’s campaigns in Luuka district, was arrested.
VII. Arthur Wadero of Daily Monitor was also attacked on his way home from covering the same event.
VIII. On December 12th 2020, David Tamale of Bukedde TV, Ssessanga Batte of BBS TV, John Cliff Wamala of NTV, Moses Waiswa of Busoga One FM, Ronald Mugenyi of Ghetto Media and Jonan Atusingwize of Pearl FM were assaulted by the security personnel as they covered Kyagulanyi’s campaigns in Alebtong District.
IX. On December 27th 2020, Ali Mivule of NTV, Daniel Lutaaya and Ashiraf Kasirye were shot at and seriously injured while covering Kyagulanyi’s campaigns at Kyabakuza in Masaka district. Ashiraf is still hospitalised following the life-threatening head injuries that he sustained from an explosive fired at his head.
X. On the same day, David Musisi Kalyankolo of Bukedde TV was arrested by the Mukono DPC. He was later released after intervention by the UJA team led by the president Mathias Rukundo.
XI. On December 30th, several journalists including Derrick Wandera of Daily Monitor and Culton Scovia of BBS TV were arrested as they took pictures of Kyagulanyi’s arrest in Kalangala. They were both released with no charges but Wandera’s phone was impounded and damaged.
XII. On the same day, journalists in Masaka under SOBUJA accused the Masaka RPC Enock Baine of persistent violation of their rights and they vowed to suspend coverage of police activities.
XIII. On the same day, (December 30th, 2020), the Deputy IGP Maj.Gen John Lokech issued a statement in which he vowed to enforce the heretical Media Council restrictive orders against election unaccredited journalists. 31st December 2020 was the ultimatum for accreditation.
XIV. On January 5th 2021, Bruno Aliga, a journalist based in West Nile was abducted on connection to the prevailing political campaign issues in the country.
