Rights body sets February 7 for hearing of journalists’ case

KAMPALA

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has set February 7 for hearing of a case in which three journalists are seeking an investigation into the violation of their freedom and rights.

In 2007, the journalists including Sam Kayiwa of Power FM, Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala formerly of Radio Sapientia and Richard Ssemakula formerly with Bukedde newspaper among others petitioned the rights commission demanding inquiry into their harsh treatment by security personnel.

They want the commission to take punitive measures against culprits including compensation for the victims. Hearing of the case flopped on December 9, 2011 under unclear circumstances.

The complaint
The trio in their complaint allege that while covering both treason and murder trials of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change Dr Kizza Besigye and the 13 Peoples’ Redemption Army suspects at High Court in Kampala and Bushenyi in 2007, security forces besieged court and in an attempt to re-arrest the suspects who had been granted bail, most journalists were beaten. In addition, their equipment and valuable items like money were confiscated and others were blocked from accessing the court premises.

The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda has lately expressed concern about the increasing restrictions on media freedoms, particularly regarding the rights and liberties of expression, speech, conscience and association by the police, army and other security agencies.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com