By Mukembo Wilfred
High Court has declined an application in which the attorney general wanted to withdraw his representation for the eight individual Uganda People’s Defense Forces UPDF officers in the petition filed by the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), its members who are also New Vision journalists Timothy Murungi and Henry Sekanjako, challenging their battering while covering National Unity Platform NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine at United Nations Human Rights Commission in Kololo, Kampala.
Murungi and Sekanjako with other journalists were assaulted in March 2021 as they covered a story under which NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu alias was delivering a petition on human rights violations at the UN Human Rights commission offices in Kololo-Kampala, prompting a suit against the attorney general, Chief of Defense Forces and other eight individual officers.
Those accused include: Lt. Col Napoleone Namanya who commended the operation, Capt. Jessy Odwenyi, L/Cp Zirimenya Kassim, Cpl. Nimusiima Justine, Pte Wasswa Peter, Pte Tsame Imran, Pte Kisakye Victoria and Pte Opiyo Isaac
Franklin Uwizera, the lawyer representing the attorney general asked court to be moved to allow him withdraw his representation for the eight UPDF officers except the CDF and Attorney General asserting that others will represent themselves.
However, Franklin was over ruled by the trial judge Bonifance Wamala, who agreed with the applicants lawyer Isaac Muwanga observing that the same chambers went on record saying that they have instructions to represent all the accused and therefore, cannot change the position.
Justice Wamala ordered applicants to file their rejoinder for the written submissions by the attorney general’s chambers not later than 4th, April, 2023.
It was on that note that the trial judge announced to deliver his judgment on notice via email.
