NMG journalist, NUP leaders attacked

Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U) journalist is fighting for his life after he was beaten by both armed hooded goons and men in military uniform. Mr Steven Kibwika, who is currently admitted in a medical facility in Kampala, was assaulted while following LoP Joel Ssenyonyi and his National Unity Platform (NUP) team as they stormed a residence in Namere, Mpererwe, Kawempe Division, which they alleged was being used for election malpractices.

“He was crying. He is in a lot of pain, especially in the lower abdomen. The medical team is doing their best to relieve him of the pain,” Ms Susan Nanyanzi, another NMG-U journalist who was at the scene, said yesterday.

The attack came on the eve of the Kawempe North by-election, which has been marked by widespread violence against the media, the Opposition, and the public.

The position fell vacant after the death of Muhammed Ssegirinya.

Mr Kibwika is the second NMG-U journalist to be attacked by armed men ahead of the by-election.

Ms Nanyanzi said the attack started when Mr Ssenyonyi and his team entered the residence and demanded to know what they were doing.

“Some of us took off before the men locked the gate of the residence. That is when the beating started,” Ms Nanyanzi said.

Ms Nanyanz said Mr Kibwika told them later that he was hit with a baton on the head and kicked in the lower abdomen.

“[Mr] Kibwika escaped from the gate, but he was in a lot of pain. He couldn’t run any further that he fell down,” Ms Nanyanzi said.

Security personnel attached to the Leader of Opposition helped Mr. Kibwika and took him to a car that rushed him to Doctors’ Clinic in Mpererwe for medical attention.

Mr Louis Rubongoya, the secretary general of NUP, said he was also hit severally on the head with a baton by people he called goons.

He said they received information that illegal electoral activities were taking place at the residence.

“We got information that there were sinister things going on in that residence. Vehicles would be driven in and come out without number plates. Numberless vehicles are often used in election malpractices,” he added.

Mr Rubongoya said some people had been contacted to collect pre-ticketed ballot papers from the same residence.

“These people informed us, and we decided to go engage the occupants of the residence. Instead of talking to us, they became confrontational and started attacking us,” he said.

He said even after they left the residence, the men continued throwing stones at them, hitting Mr Ssenyonyi’s official vehicle and smashing its windscreen.

After the attack, Mr Ssenyonyi and Mr Rubongoya went to the police for help.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesman, Luke Owoyesigyire, confirmed that the two individuals filed complaints at Kawempe Police Division but chose not to formally open cases.

“Mr Rubongoya claimed that he had been assaulted while Mr Ssenyonyi said that there was vote rigging in the residence. They wanted police officers to go and search the house. But the officers told them to first register a case to enable the officers to carry out their duties. They refused to do that and went away without any case registered,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.

Mr Owoyesigyire said they haven’t registered any complaint from Mr Kibwika.

“When we get that complaint, we shall commence the investigations,” he said.

There are 10 candidates in the Kawempe North by-elections. These include independents Hanifa Karadi, Alex Muhammad Luswa Luwemba, Muhamood Mutazindwa, Moses Nsereko, and Stanley Edward Engena Maitum; NUP’s Elias Luyimbaazi Nalukoola; FDC’s Sadat Mukiibi, alias Khalifa Aganaga; NRM’s Faridah Nambi Kigongo; DP’s Henry Kasacca Mubiru; and PPP’s Ismail Musiitwa.