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Why fire tear-gas, why fire bullets, Museveni questions Police

ruth sierra — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 07:43:29 +0000

Museveni warns security forces. Internet photo

President Museveni yesterday released a statement condemning in the strongest terms the shooting and beating of civilians by the Police.

The president questioned as to why police fired tear gas and live bullets during the Monday demonstrations that saw the rioters, section of the public, and journalists brutally beaten and arrested.

“Youth groups of Monday were more of a nuisance and psychological warfare than a menace, unless I get new facts. Why then, shoot at them, why fire tear-gas, why fire bullets?” he wondered advising the Police to use other means.

“Those mobile, tyre burning groups, who are not attacking anybody, should simply be chased on foot, identified from light helicopters (206- Agusto type) or UAUs, arrested and be charged with appropriate offences,” he continued.

In the same statement, Museveni condemned beating up of journalists and advised the police to rather arrest and charge them lawfully in case of disobedience. He informed the security forces that they don’t have the power to beat up people.

“I condemn, again, in the strongest terms the beating of journalists by elements of the security forces. It is true that the journalists working for foreign interests or for our own local parasites tell lies, they do not do balanced reporting,”

Soldiers beating a journalist as he covered the protests over the detention of Opposition MPs in Kampala on Monday. NTV PHOTO

“On account of that you can block them because sometimes they interfere with the scene of crime. If they refuse, you arrest them and charge them with disobeying lawful command

“Beating is wrong because the Security forces do not have that power. People should not be beaten even as a punishment. They can be imprisoned, fined, or hanged according to the law,” he advised.

This follows the recent riots and wave of demonstrations that have arisen from the brutal arrest of four MPs and over 30 other civilians on the eve of the ARUA municipality by-election. The MPs include MP Robert Kyagulanyi commonly known as Bobi Wine, Kasiano Wadri who won the by-election, Gerald Karuhanga and Francis Zaake whose where abouts have been unknown until of recent when he was “dumped” at Rubaga hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STATEMENT

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Katuntu throws out NFA boss over accountability documents.

Gerald Businge — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 11:57:31 +0000

Officials of the National forestry Authority(NFA) led by the Authorities Executive Director Micheal Mugisha were shown the exit from a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) over lack of detailed accountability documents.

Abdu Katuntu the Bugweri County MP

The Committee Chaired by Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu told the NFA officials to leave the meeting room after realizing that they were not ready to satisfactorily to respond to the auditor general report queries for the financial 2014/15.

Katuntu says that they wanted the NFA to avail to the committee its asset register, financial manual for verification to see whether its land is not exposed land grabbers.

Katuntu says that most of the land held by public institutions is at risk of being taken illegally by land grabbers, noting that some land is illegally taken by people working in those same institutions.

However, while leaving the room, Mugisha told journalists that the office is ready to avail all the detailed accountability as demanded by members of parliament.

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UPPA set to have new leadership

Isaac Senabulya — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 07:58:55 +0000

Journalist attending training ahead of the 10th Parliament

The nomination for the new leadership position in the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) held with three candidates vying for the position of chairperson. The new leadership seeks to replace the old leadership which was under NTV journalists Agnes Nandutu.

The three nominees for the Uganda parliamentary press Association president include Isaac Imaka of the Daily Monitor, Moses Mulondo of the New vision and Francis Lubega of Radio Sapientia. Isaac Imaka from the Daily Monitor boosts of having five years experience after serving in various media and promising to link the Association and its members to other international organizations for different benefits. He observed the need for a joint platform which will see them earning besides their earning from their media houses.

Moses Mulondo from the new vision wants to ensure that he liaise with the respective media houses so that reporters payment improve and rewarding the best performing members of parliament. Lubega Francis pledged to improve the health status of journalists where they can access free medical services being the fourth estate. He reasons that many journalists have lost lives because of limited finances.

However Dickens Okello of ChimpReports is unopposed for secretary General and Rose Kasigwa of Paidha fm unopposed for the secretary for women Affairs. Vincent Kasozi of Sanyu fm, Joseph Sabiti NBS TV and Moses Walugembe are vying for the post of the vice president. Olive Eyotaro and Fred Mukasa Kiku kiwala are contesting for the post of the organizing secretary. Others are Charles Mugerwa of CBS 88.8 FM and Olive NAkatudde of Uganda Radio Network and other committee members.

The election is set for 15th for the respective position and under the UPPA constitution the president serves for two years.

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A- level qualification outdated for parliamentary seats – Dr Gerald Karyeijja

Isaac Senabulya — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 07:16:09 +0000

As the 10th parliament prepares to commence its work in mid May some political dons are calling for revision of academic qualifications of members. While presenting a paper in the ongoing orientation workshop for journalists covering parliament, the political science don Dr Gerald Karyeijja said many members lack information and skills thus ending up steering the country in a questionable direction. He said that A- level qualification is outdated and it has ended up bringing half baked members whose performance cannot sustain quality debate. He called for revision of qualification for Members of Parliament if 10th parliament is to be different.

Journalists assigned to cover parliament should know their position and never superimpose their rights on the independence of the house. These are some of the remarks made by Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga while launching a two day induction workshop for Journalists accredited to cover the 10^thparliament. Kadaga also described journalists as strangers whose presence can only be allowed at the discretion of parliament. She accused some journalists of misrepresenting facts in their reports on Parliamentary proceedings emphasizing the importance of objectivity and professionalism.

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Journalist shot at, another arrested by police and assaulted while covering NRM party elections.

Isaac Senabulya — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:55:09 +0000

NRM Nomination Forms

Enoch Matovu, a correspondent for a local television, NTV, in Mityana District was reportedly shot on the head while covering an incident of vote rigging during the NRM party elections at Bulera police station in Mityana district. He sustained a bullet injury on his head.

Matovu told journalists that he was covering the incident and never saw who shot at him in the scuffle,

“I saw the local people opening the car and removing the ballot papers which they scattered around the police station, and that’s when I stopped understanding. I later discovered that I was admitted in Mityana Hospital.” Matovu narrated.

Two unidentified men have so far been arrested and detained at Mityana police station, according to police.

The scuffle ensued when an unidentified man turned up at a polling station near the police with ballot papers and could not ably explain where he got them. The local people became hostile and wanted to lynch him but he managed to escape and hid inside the police station. His car was broken into and the ballot papers scattered by the angry locals. Matovu is still undergoing treatment.

In a related development, a Vision Group journalist Haruna Mugerwa was on 27^th October 2015 assaulted while covering a story in which a police officer, one Corporal Mbirimu Michael was implicated in vote rigging when he was reportedly found with some pre-ticked ballot papers hidden in his shirt and gum boots hours before elections of NRM party elections. Mbirimu was arrested and locked up in a private car at Mbirizzi trading center.

Mbirimu was removed from the car and put on a police patrol amidst gunshots by the Lwengo District Police Commander Muhwezi Ronald. This prompted Mugerwa to jump on the police patrol to flee from a crowd which had turned rowdy hence angering one of the contender’s supporters who trailed the police patrol upto Lwengo police station, where they pounced on Mugerwa and started beating accusing him of boarding a police patrol car. He sustained injuries on the neck and his camera was destroyed. He opened up a case of assault and malicious damage to property at Lwengo police station.

A journalist working with NBS television, Kataggwa George was arrested and detained by police for a night on 26^th October 2015. Police accused him of covering a meeting that was deemed “political” and not open to the public. The meeting was held at Musana restaurant at Muhooro, Kibaale district. His camera was confiscated by the police. Kataggwa and a workmate, Bahati Remmy were covering a scuffle between the Buyaga West County Member of Parliament Barnabas Tinkasimire and Dennis Namara who were contesting to be NRM party flag bearer for Member of Parliament Buyaga West Constituency, Kibaale district in Western Uganda. Tinkasiimire was accusing Namara of bribing police officers to intimidate his supporters. Kataggwa was released without a charge and his camera returned.

“We call on the police to bring the perpetrators of such violence against journalists to book, and also ensure the safety and security of journalists during the course of their work.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala

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Ministry of finance to train journalists in budget analysis and reporting

Gerald Businge — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:16:23 +0000

The government of Uganda has increasingly over the years, introduced reforms in the country’s planning and budgeting processes. These reforms have not only targeted to improve resource allocation for effective service delivery but also to promote accountability and transparency in the utilization of public resources.

Whereas many of these budget reforms are known among some technical and policy actors within the government and non-government quarters, the majority of the wider citizenry are not well informed about these reforms and the implementation to their livelihoods. So in light of this, the ministry of finance planning, and economic development in collaboration with budget strengthening initiative programme hosted by the overseas development institute (UK) and the Uganda Media Centre have planed a training session for media practitioners to equip them with the knowledge on the new budgets reforms and skills in budgeting scrutiny and accountability.

The media as a key stakeholders in channeling information to the public, this training will be crucial in improving their knowledge and skills in budget analysis and reporting. The training will take place on Tuesday 8^th May 2012 in the ministry of finance planning, and economic development conference room starting at 8: am. According to the programme, it would be opened by the minister of Uganda for Finance, Miria Kiwanuka.

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UPDF soldiers asked to restrain from speaking to journalists

Gerald Businge — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:44:02 +0000

The 1995 Constitution of Uganda provides for freedom of speech, expression of opinion but this is not the case with the UPDF soldiers.

A senior army officer in UPDF rang one of our informers this morning and wondered why the commander in chief of Uganda’s armed forces reportedly put standing orders that restrain soldiers from speaking to the media without authorization.

The officer said that even if they serve in the army they remain with a right to give an opinion, to speak to the press and or to tell the world what do not go down well in the army. The senior army officer asked journalists to discredit this standing order until it is scrapped.

The soldier told us that the standing orders are that ‘whoever speaks to the press without authorization risks dismissal from the army with disgrace and or imprisonment.

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Councilors call off meeting, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago furious

Gerald Businge — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:27:40 +0000

Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) councilors boycotted a meeting called by the Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. Lukwago had called the meeting to approve the fees for taxi operators working in Kampala. The meeting failed to take place on Wednesday at KCCA head offices in Kampala.

Lukwago told journalists that it was the councilors who had requested him to call the meeting but he was surprised when the same councilors rejected the meeting they had wanted.

The councilors were supposed to endorse the 120; 000 shillings set by the KCCA director, Jenifer Musisi or endorse the taxi drivers’ proposal to pay 70, 000 shillings per month.

Only six councilors turned up for the meeting with Lukwago. We are told that the KCCA director took the councilors who were meant to be in Lukwago’s meeting on a tour of the city.

Ultimate Media

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My concert in South Africa was not a flop, says Iryn Namubiru

Gerald Businge — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:48:05 +0000

PAM awards winner Iryn Namubiru has rubbished media reports that her recent concert in Pretoria SouthAfricaflopped. She has told journalists that the media reports were injected in the press by her enemies in the music industry.

She says hundreds of fans entered her show and she collected millions of money. Namubiru says that her show moved revelers and many were heard singing her name in ecstasy.

The ‘birowoozo’ star singer says that many people requested her to stay inSouth Africafor a while but her schedule could not allow this to happen. She had to go toFranceto meet with her family. She will return toUgandain a week’s time.

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My concert in South Africa was not a flop, says Iryn Namubiru

Gerald Businge — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:41:22 +0000

She says hundreds of fans entered her show and she collected millions of money. Namubiru says that her show moved revelers and many were heard singing her name in ecstasy.

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