Government ordered to compensate tortured journalists

Kampala

Court has ordered the government to pay Shs30 million to two WBS TV journalists who were beaten by trainee constables.

Mr Francis Tumwekwasize and Mr Timothy Sibasi were assaulted at Mandela National Stadium in 2008 where they had gone to write a story about the poor sanitation at the facility.

While passing judgment on Tuesday, the judge, Yorokam Bamwine, said “There was sufficient evidence that the journalists were assaulted and they were denied access to information which is tantamount to violation of press freedom and right to life”.

Each journalist is to be paid Shs15m in compensation for the medical bills that they incurred during their treatment and the humiliation they underwent.

The journalists told the select committee of Parliament investigating the brutality by the Force, that the police officers intentionally assaulted them.