EAC media challenged on assisting integration

Kampala 17^th/08/2011, the media in East Africa has been challenged to increase on their concerted efforts towards deepening the integration process.

This call was made by the Dr Richard Sezibera, the EAC secretary general during the second training course for journalists dubbed reporting on regional integration in Arusha, Tanzania. He said the role of the media should go beyond promoting awareness but create a discourse that involves the East Africans.

Mr. Richard Owora, the head of corporate communications and public affairs at the EAC secretariat said the media should take deliberate interests in “telling the EAC story” in a more innovative way and showing the world the importance of the region. He said: “So long as the people are aware of the EAC, see it and feel its presence, they will appreciate more and acknowledge its benefits and prospects.”

Dr Sezibera maintained that the EAC is committed to delivering results to the citizens of the region who are the actors and beneficiaries of the integration process. The EAC treaty says the regional integration process shall be people-centered. In this regard, the EAC must achieve and demonstrate greater efficiency and effectiveness as well as visibility of its activities.

For more information visit:

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Business/Commodities/-/688610/1220092/-/cweqt8/-/index.html

Journalist remanded to prison

 Kampala, 12th/08/2011, embattled journalist Augustine Okello has missed to take a plea again on treason charges against him over absenting magistrate. This is the second time after 1st/Aug/2011 when Okello first appeared before grade one magistrate Grace Balintuma who read charges and remanded him to Luzira prison.

 Sources say “that Okello was supposed to appear before chief magistrate who is currently away on official duties”. Although Okello has been remanded until 25th/Aug/2011, the defense lawyer Adam Makmot Kibwanga is screaming foul over failure to access the case file.

 Before the case was adjourned, Makmot requested court to order the state to avail the file but he was advised to make such a prayer to the presiding judge. However, the state prosecutor Happiness Ainebyona revealed that the file was not yet with the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and that she had only court proceedings on the file.

 "Such behavior is meant to frustrate us and deny us access to judicial processes.Am going to write to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to avail us the file failure this matter will be taken to a higher court "said defense lawyer Makmot.

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) calls upon the judiciary to consider circumstances under which Okello was arrested and how he was brought to court so that his case can be expeditiously handled.

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com

Another witness pins Basajjabalaba for assaulting a journalist

 Kampala, 8th/Aug/2011;A second witness in the photo journalist Arthur Kintu’s case has taken a stand and pinned Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba for assault.IsmailNkonge 35, a journalist with Dembe FM is the second witness after Henry Mukasa senior reporter with the government owned news paper the New Vision who testified against Hajji Basajjabalaba on August 5th. Nkonge told the court that he saw Hajji Basajjabalaba trouncing on Kintu after taking his picture. He slapped and boxed him in the face several times. Afterwards Kintu came where we were while bleeding. We took him to police where he recorded a statement Narrated Nkonge. Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010during the National Resistance Movement-Organization (NRM-O) delegate’s conference which was at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole. In the same meeting Basajjabalaba was elected the chairperson of the Entrepreneurs league National Resistance Movement Organization is the Uganda’s ruling party.

 Although the case has entered a second day of hearing but it’s likely not to reach its final conclusion due to a possible settlement of out of court whose move is being championed by the presiding magistrate Evan Faith Palodi. This is a small case which can be settled out of court like I have done to other ten case files of this nature. Fighting or quarrel is part of us because we are all human beings. Why should you (Arthur Kintu) take it as a big case How many of you here in the court room that do not fight or quarrel Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi asked. Kintu and Basajjabalaba however consented to a settlement of out of court when the magistrate asked them. They agreed to meet over lunch in the presiding magistrate chambers and forge a possibility of settling the case out of court before a third witness (police surgeon) is called summoned to appear before court. The way forward of the case will determined after the meeting.

 For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com

Hearing of the journalist’s assault case takes off

 Kampala, 5th/Aug/2011;Hearing of a case in which a photo journalist Arthur Kintu accusing a businessman over assault and malicious damage to property has taken off at Buganda road court with two witnesses taking a stand Arthur Kintu a photo journalist with the government owned paper the New Vision who is the main complainant and Henry Mukasa a senior reporter at the same news  paper testified against Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba in a court session presided over Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi. Basajjabalaba was first charged with two counts of assault and malicious damage to property in September 2010 and dismissed on grounds of failure by theDirector of Public Prosecution (DPP) to finalize investigations. The case was also dismissed without physical appearance of Basajjabalaba before court to take a plea.

The case was early this year reinstated after Human Rights Network for  Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) petitioned the former High Court Principle  Justice James Ogoola for intervention. Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010 during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates conference which was at Mandela national Stadium, Namboole.

Kintu in his evidence before court said Basajjabalaba trounced on him after  taking his picture. I was tipped off by my colleague that Basajjabalaba had won the position of the NRM’s Entrepreneurship league chairman and I went to take his photo. After taking his picture he advanced towards me and grabbed my camera by the lens  Kintu said. Basajjabalaba asked who has given you permission but I  replied that I was a journalist from the New Vision and produced my Identity card.Kintu added that Basajjabalaba tried to snatch his camera but he held on it which resulted into, slapping in the face and boxing his lips.Henry Mukasa who is a second witness said he was in a distance of around five meters when he saw Kintu being boxed in the face which caused bleeding of his  lips.

We applaud the judiciary’s intervention into the matter and decided to put  Basajjabalaba back on the hook and to be tried for his wrong deeds. Such a move we believe will reduce on cases of mistreatment of journalists with impunity Said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairman Robert Ssempala Although the presiding magistrate advised both parties to take the advantage of settling the matter out of court but the case has been scheduled to resume on  8th/Aug/2011 with more witnesses.

 For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road ?Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com

Journalists arrested for demanding salary arrears

 Lubirizi, 3rd/August/2011; three journalists of Lubirizi district-based Grace Radio have been arrested by police for demanding for the cumulative salary arrears. The arrested include; the programmes director Owen Baruku, Wilson Asiimwe a news anchor and Daniel Katongole who doubles as a presenter and news anchor. The two other staff Deborah Kanimba (News anchor) and Sarah Ninyirikiriza (presenter) hides from view when police attempted to arrest them.  Grace radio is being run by Lions of Judah Limited owned by Pastor Nassan Ibrahim Turyamureeba.  The pastor also owns Grace cathedral Kasese and Bester Cathedral Bushenyi.

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has learnt that more than 12 radio staffs are neither working with appointment letters for years nor paid salaries. The staff who spoke to HRNJ-Uganda researcher said they wrote to the management on 28th/July/2011 demanding for payment of their cumulative arrears before 1st/August/2011 failure they threatened to lay down their tools. The staff in their July 28th letter also demanded for employment letters and contracts. According to the staff, the deadline passed without response and some journalists went ahead with a sit-down strike. We did not go to work on August 1st despite intimidation from management but when we had a meeting at Orange pub which is opposite the radio, the Officer in Charge of traffic, Ndekye police station one Mafabi arrested us and detained for a night said the radio programmes director Owen Baruku.The statement recorded by the radio manager Batt Bainomukama at police is  allegedly accusing the three journalists for switching off the radio and stealing station properties including a computer, internet modem, voice recorder and a stamp pad.

Our concern is that the image of police before Ugandan citizens is tainted due to actions of police men who continue to be used by economically and politically powerful people to harass Ugandans and journalists in particular. We wonder whether there was an investigation carried out before the arrest said HRNJ-Uganda programmes Coordinator Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala He said demanding for labor rights has never been a criminal case like police is  trying to portray the matter. Information reaching HRNJ-Uganda from the radio indicates that the three journalists have been sacked and new staffs have been recruited. Efforts to talk to the radio manager Batt Bainomukama were futile as all phone calls made were not picked.

 The three journalists were charged with theft and released on police bond. HRNJ-Uganda demands for withdraw of the criminal charges against the journalists unconditionally and police should assist them to recover their arrears. We call upon the Uganda Police Force Professions Standard Unit to investigate the O/C traffic Ndekye police station one Mafabi and take appropriate disciplinary action.

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road  Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com

Missing journalist produced in court

 Kampala, 1st/August/2011; Augustine Okello who has been detained incommunicado  for two and half weeks is produced before court and remanded to Luzira prison. Although Okello’s name did not appear on the charge sheet but the Buganda road court Grade One magistrate Grace Balintuma went ahead to read out the charge of  terrorism. He was not allowed to enter a plea because the court had jurisdiction to try him.

 Okello a.k.a was added on the list of suspects who are accused of killing the self exiled Col. Muzoora two months ago as accused number seven (7). The charge sheet however alleges that Okello between October 2006 and 2011 in different parts of the country with other people formed a rebel group called Uganda People’s Freedom (UPF) which recruited people and mobilized logistical support for their rebellion to overthrow the Kampala government by force of arm. His appearance before court came hours after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) threatened to sue five top commanders of government forces including the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defense Forces and commanders of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, Rapid Response Unit and Internal Security Organ for contempt of court in a press conference. This followed the failure by forces to comply with a court order issued on 25th/July/2011 which required them to produce Okello in court in a period of 24 hours.

Okello disappeared on July 13th in Lira, in northern Uganda after holding meetings with security chiefs in the area including Lira’s district internal security officer (DISO), Steven Eryaku. Eryaku according to sources allegedly phoned Okello and they met later at Grand Pacific hotel in Lira town.

 Before a charge sheet was read out to Okello the defense lawyer Adam Makmot Kibwanga had objected to it saying that the facts used against him were far different from the case he’s being accused of, but magistrate Ntuma said such matters will be addressed before the trial magistrate. We know Okello has been brought to court out of pressure but the charge sheet should have corresponded with the case allegedly committed. How can the entire Directorate of Public Prosecution fail a simple job of amending a charge sheet we are going to contest that in the highest court said Makmot Okello was remanded to Luzira prison until 12th August when he’s expected to take a plea.

  

For More Information Contact;

 Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

 Kivebulaya Road Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School

 P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala

 Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627

 E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org

              humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk

 Website: www.hrnjuganda.org

 BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com