The National coordinator of the Human Rights Network for Journalists Geoffrey Ssebalaga says that whereas the group has asked the authorities to produce Augustine Okello in courts of law, all the efforts have been in vain.

Okello a 28-year-old journalist with Rhino FM in Lira District was arrested by the District Security Officer at Grand Pacific Hotel in Lira 2 weeks ago over unclear charges.

Ssebagala said this is a deliberate effort by state agents to subject journalists with divergent views to torture and subsequently jeopardize media freedom.

Accompanied by Okello’s wife Christine Laureta, Ssebagala said that the Human Rights Network for journalists through the Makmot-Kibwanga and company advocates is now demanding for the unconditional release of the journalist.

Ultimate Media

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A Grade II Magistrate at Kampala City Hall Court, James Wambeya yesterday remanded Kalyegira after reading to him charges of defaming the person of the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in articles published in the Uganda Record.

Prosecution alleges that between the 12th and 15th of July 2010 in Kampala, with intent to defame the president, Kalyegira published that government was behind the plantation of the bombs that went off on July/11th killing more than 80 Ugandans at the Ethiopian village in Kabalagala and Rugby Club in Lugogo.

Timothy Kalyegira

Section 179 of the Penal Code Act of 1950 states “Any person who, by print, writing, painting, effigy or by any means otherwise than solely by gestures, spoken words or other sounds, unlawfully publishes any defamatory matter concerning another person, with intent to defame that other person, commits the misdemeanour termed libel”.

The law is being challenged by a group of journalists led by Barnard Tabaire in the Supreme Court headed.

The government blamed the bombs on al-shabab, a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda.

So it was furious over the Uganda record publication, and had Kalyegira interrogated by security personnel at the CID, later on searching his home and confiscating his laptop, cell phone, internet modem and passport.

Kalyegira who was with a team of lawyers led by Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi and a team of senior journalists and the Human rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) team had been remanded till the 6th/June/2011 when he would plead to the charges.

It was alleged that the Grade 1 magistrate, Juliet Hatanga who has jurisdiction to handle this case and allow him enter plea, was not present.

Kalyegira has been under police harassment since he was interrogated, first charged with Sedition and released on police bond on 3^rd/August/2010 at Kira road police station.

The post Journalist Timothy Kalyegira released on bail first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Timothy Kalyegira

Kalyegira runs an online publication Uganda record which is critical of the Museveeni government and has written a controversial story about the July 11 twin bombings in Kabalagala and Lugogo during the 2010 world cup finals.

Kalyegira will be produced in court on Wednesday and he has consulted his lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuzi to represent him.

Rwakafuzi said he does not agree with the charges labeled against his client because the police can not prove that those crimes were committed and that they were committed where Ugandan has jurisdiction.

By Nabula Baluku

The post Uganda journalist Timothy Kalyegira arrested first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Ssali who is on a country wide tour organized by the US embassy was supposed to be hosted on Step Radio and TV to discuss issues concerning freedom of the press.

According to the Step Radio’s operations manage Jonathan Tusubira, the station received a call from the Resident district commission Paul Nangoli not to host Sali.

Nangoli says he received orders from Kampala (the central government) not to allow Shaka Ssali, often a government critic on air in Mbale.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

The post Voice of America’s Shaka Ssali denied to appear on Uganda radio first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.