Don’t be intimidated, Justice Kanyeihamba tells journalists

Although Information minister says journalists should avoid sensationalism, the retired Supreme Court judge says the media should not be intimidated because its role is to gather information and report.

Bushenyi/Kampala

A former judge has disagreed with Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut over her warning to the media not to propagate claims made by Gen. David Sejusa, the coordinator of intelligence services.

Retired Supreme Court judge Justice George William Kanyeihamba said it is the job of the media to gather and air or publish information they have gathered. “The media should not be intimidated. Whenever people threaten you, it means you are doing a good job exposing their weaknesses and ferocity,” Justice Kanyeihamba told the Daily Monitor yesterday.

His remarks come against the backdrop of remarks the Information minister reportedly made in Bushenyi District on Sunday, warning the media against sensationalism.

The letter
Gen. Sejusa’s latest outburst through a letter to the director general of the Internal Security Organisation, Col. Ronnie Balya, in which he asked for an investigation into claims of a plot to assassinate top government officials opposed to the “Muhoozi project,” has kicked up a storm. This was in reference to President Museveni’s son, also Special Forces Commander, Brig. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Justice Kanyeihamba said the way the government is responding to media reports on what is happening shows it is getting confused. Ms Karooro said on Sunday that journalists should follow professional ethics in their reporting.

“Government takes with great concern the sensational manner in which the media has reported and continues to report on this sensitive national security matter. Media freedom, which is guaranteed in our Constitution, is not absolute and must, in any case, be exercised with restraint and responsibility,” Ms Karooro said.

Warning
She added: “It was reported that Gen. Sejusa said that some people in government want to assassinate him and other members of the UPDF. Now when you (media) come out and disseminate such information or allegation without establishing its correctness, you are falling in the same pit because where is the evidence.”

Ms Karooro said the Muhoozi project is a creation of some people who want to divert the government from real issues. However, Justice Kanyeihamba said it is the government that is getting diverted. The police have summoned Daily Monitor Managing Editor Don Wanyama together with two reporters; Richard Wanambwa and Risdel Kasasira for publishing the letter Gen Sejusa wrote.

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