Battered journalist to have spine surgery
Mr Andrew Lwanga, a local TV journalist who was recently hospitalized after he was battered by the Old Kampala Division Police Commander, Mr Joram Mwesigye to under go spine surgery. Photo by Abubaker Lubowa
What you need to know:
Meanwhile, the suspect (Mwesigye) who was arrested and detained, regained his freedom after he was charged with assault before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court and released on a cash bail of Shs800, 000
Mr Andrew Lwanga, a local TV journalist who was recently hospitalized after he was battered by the Old Kampala Division Police Commander, Mr Joram Mwesigye is yet to under go spine surgery.
Mr Lwanga told Daily Monitor that doctors at Nsambya Hospital postponed the surgery which was supposed to take place on Tuesday (January 27) on grounds that they needed more time to review his progress before they could perform the surgery.
Mr Lwanga who is currently undergoing physiotherapy said he was getting better but doctors had told him they planned a surgery to mend his back and it would cost Shs4.5million.
Mr Joram Mwesigye, the DPC Old Kampala Police Station leaving Buganda Road Court after being charged and released on bail on January 15. File photo
“I was meant to have the surgery today but the doctors postponed it saying they needed more time to review my progress,” Mr Lwanga said, adding that that he is still in touch with the officials from the police after the later pledged to meet all his medical expenses.
“We were supposed to process and attach all the required medical documents before presenting my file to the police by yesterday (January 26) but it being a public holiday, we hope to do this by closure of today,” he added.
Mr Lwanga is meant to undergo lumbar spine surgery after landing on his back when Mr Mwesigye and other police officers battered him while he covered a demonstration by members of the Unemployed Youth Association in Kampala.
Meanwhile, the suspect (Mwesigye) who was arrested and detained, regained his freedom after he was charged with assault before Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court and released on a cash bail of Shs800, 000. Each of his five sureties was bonded Shs2million, not cash.
However, the case was pushed to February 4 for hearing on grounds that Mr Lwanga (victim) who is the key witness is still admitted at Nsambya Hospital.
Currently, MPs on the Uganda Parliamentary Forum on the Media are gathering signatures to back their petition against police’s continued brutality on scribes in the country.
The MPs intend to table the petition before Parliament calling for thorough investigations of the police officers involved after returning from the House’s Christmas recess.
