By Kabuye Ronald
The Uganda journalists Association (UJA) on Tuesday evening dragged the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Attorney General, the commander who ordered and participated in the beating and injuring of journalists at United Nations Human Rights Commission in Kololo, Lt. Col. Namanya Napoleon and 7 other individual soldiers to high court civil division for violating journalists rights.
UJA sued on behalf of its members that include Henry Ssekanjako and Timothy Murungi through its lawyers of M/S Ochieng Associated advocates and M/S Kaganzi and Co. Advocate is seeking for compensation in general damages and Restitution/Rehabilitation of their battered members by providing medical and psychological care.
The UJA also wants a declaration that the Respondents violated the journalists’ rights to press and other media, under Article 29(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, the right to dignity and freedom from torture, inhumane and degrading treatment under Articles 24 and 44(a) the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, The right to freedom of movement, speech, expression, conscience, opinion, assembly and association under Article 29 (1) and (2) the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 and the right to practice their profession and carry out their lawful occupation, trade or business under Article 40 (2) the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995.
The journalists also want a declaration of the cessation of the continued violation journalists’ human rights and freedoms, Verification of the true facts of the matters involved in this case and a public disclosure of the truth by and at the cost of the Respondents and a public apology including acknowledgment of the facts and acceptance of responsibility by the Respondents.
The seven other officers sued are those that was convicted and sentenced by the court martial to 2-3 months imprisonment for their unprofessional behaviors. These include: Capt. Jessy Odwenyi, L/Cp Zirimenya Kassim, Cpl. Nimusiima Justine, Pte Wasswa Peter, Pte Tsame Imran, Pte Kisakye Victoria and Pte Opiyo Isaac
Speaking to the press after filing the application, UJA president Mathias Rukundo said their optimistic that court will grant them their demands and also put to a stop to being battered by security officers.
He said that a mere apology by the UPDF CDF, Gen. David Muhoozi cannot guarantee that the rights of journalists will not be violated again by the UPDF officers since it’s not the first apology from the security agencies.
He also called upon journalists and the general public to unite and support the common cause of fighting for the media space.
It should be noted that on Wednesday, last week UPDF Military police battered several journalists outside the UNHRC offices while executing their lawfully duties as the National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine was delivering his petition on human rights violation at the United Nations concerned agency.
