Ismail Nkonge 35, a journalist with Dembe FM is the second witness after Henry Mukasa senior reporter with the government owned news paper the New Vision who testified against Hajji Basajjabalaba.

Nkonge told the court that he saw Hajji Basajjabalaba trouncing on Kintu after taking his picture. “He slapped and boxed him in the face several times. Afterwards Kintu came where we were while bleeding. We took him to police where he recorded a statement,” narrated Nkonge.

Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010during the National Resistance Movement-Organization (NRM-O) delegate’s conference which was at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.

In the same meeting Basajjabalaba was elected the chairperson of the Entrepreneurs league National Resistance Movement Organization is the Uganda’s ruling party.

Although the case has entered a second day of hearing but it’s likely not to reach its final conclusion due to a possible settlement of out of court whose move is being championed by the presiding magistrate Evan Faith Palodi.

“This is a small case which can be settled out of court like I have done to other ten case files of this nature. Fighting or quarrel is part of us because we are all human beings. Why should you (Arthur Kintu) take it as a big case. How many of you here in the court room that do not fight or quarrel,” Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi asked.

Kintu and Basajjabalaba however consented to a settlement of out of court when the magistrate asked them. They agreed to meet over lunch in the presiding magistrate chambers and forge a possibility of settling the case out of court before a third witness (police surgeon) is called summoned to appear before court.

The way forward of the case will determined after the meeting. Basajjabala has apologised for assaulting the Journalist but it is not clear whether Kintu has dropped the charges.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post More witnesses pin Basajjabala on assaulting Journalist first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Arthur Kintu a photo journalist with the government owned paper the New Vision who is the main complainant and Henry Mukasa a senior reporter at the same news  paper testified against Hajji Hassan Basajjabalaba in a court session presided over Grade One magistrate Evan Faith Palodi.

Basajjabalaba was first charged with two counts of assault and malicious damage to property in September 2010 and dismissed on grounds of failure by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to finalize investigations. The case was also dismissed without physical appearance of Basajjabalaba before court to take a plea.

The case was early this year reinstated after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) petitioned the former High Court Principle  Justice James Ogoola for intervention.

Prosecution alleges that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu on 6th/September/2010 during the National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates conference which was at Mandela national Stadium, Namboole.

Kintu in his evidence before court said Basajjabalaba trounced on him after Kintu taking his picture. “I was tipped off by my colleague that Basajjabalaba had won the position of the NRM’s Entrepreneurship league chairman and I went to take his photo. After taking his picture he advanced towards me and grabbed my camera by the lens,”  Kintu said.

“Basajjabalaba asked who has given you permission but I replied that I was a journalist from the New Vision and produced my Identity card.”

Kintu added that Basajjabalaba tried to snatch his camera but he held on it which resulted into, slapping in the face and boxing his lips by Basajjabalaba.

Henry Mukasa who is a second witness said he was in a distance of around five meters when he saw Kintu being boxed in the face which caused bleeding on his lips.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Arthur Kintu suit against Hassan Basajjabala kicks off first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Although Okello’s name did not appear on the charge sheet but the Buganda road court Grade One magistrate Grace Balintuma went ahead to read out the charge of  terrorism against the journalist. He was not allowed to enter a plea because the court had jurisdiction to try him.

Okello was added on the list of suspects who are accused of killing the self exiled Col. Muzoora two months ago as accused number seven (7). The charge sheet however alleges that Okello between October 2006 and 2011 in different parts of the country with other people formed a rebel group called Uganda People’s Freedom (UPF) which recruited people and mobilized logistical support for their rebellion to overthrow the government of President Yoweri Museveni by force of arms.

His appearance before court came hours after Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) threatened to sue five top commanders of government forces including the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defense Forces and commanders of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, Rapid Response Unit and Internal Security Organ for contempt of court in a press conference. This followed the failure by forces to comply with a court order issued on 25th/July/2011 which required them to produce Okello in court in a period of 24 hours.

Okello disappeared on July 13th in Lira, in northern Uganda after holding meetings with security chiefs in the area including Lira’s district internal security officer (DISO), Steven Eryaku. Eryaku according to sources allegedly phoned Okello and they met later at Grand Pacific hotel in Lira town.

Before a charge sheet was read out to Okello, the defense lawyer Adam Makmot Kibwanga had objected to it, saying that the facts used against him were far different from the case he is being accused of. But magistrate Ntuma said such matters will be addressed before the trial judge.

“We know Okello has been brought to court out of pressure but the charge sheet should have corresponded with the case allegedly committed. How can the entire Directorate of Public Prosecution fail a simple job of amending a charge sheet? We are going to contest that in the highest court, said lawyer Makmot.

Okello was remanded to Luzira prison until 12th August when he’s expected to take a plea.

By Isaac Senabulya

The post Journalist Augustine Okello produced in Court, charged with terrorism first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

The chairperson of the committee Milton Muwuma said that police should appear before the committee on Thursday this week and the Army is needed next week.

This follows the 10 journalists Associations petitioning the committee over the mistreatment of journalists by security organs in the country.

While presenting the petition on behalf of the 10 journalists Associations the executive secretary of the independent media council of Uganda Haruna Kanabi demanded that disciplinary action should be taken against the army and police officers who participate and command the beating of journalists.

The group named and released the names of army and police officers who brutalize journalists during their work and among the officers pinned in journalists brutality include DPC kira road police station James Muhwezi, Deputy police spokes person  Vicent Sekate, DPC old kampala police station Siraje Bakaleke , DPC Masaka Edward sserunjogi,  DPC katwe police WASIMA,DPC Jinja road station Denis kamigisha, among others.

The member of parliament for Rwemiyaga county Theodro sekikubo asked the police standard unit to always take disciplinary against police officers who violate human rights of Ugandans.

Ultimate Media

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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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Grade 1 Magistrate Faith Ecans Palodi has issued the threats following Basajjabalaba’s continued failure to show up in court.

Prosecution alleges that in September last year; Basajjabalaba assaulted a local journalist Arthur Kintu during the NRM delegates conference at Namboole stadium and injured him.

It is alleged that Basajjabalaba assaulted Kintu when he took photograohs of the tycoon giving out bundles of 50,000 shs notes to voters as they cherred him.

Basajjabalaba is said to have slapped and punched the journalist in the face, thereby injuring him.

Late last year, the same court had dismissed the matter and advised the prosecution to reinstate the charges when it is done with its investigations.

The post Court threatens warrant against tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Okello disappeared on July 13th in Lira, in northern Uganda after holding meetings with security chiefs in the area including Lira’s district internal security officer (DISO), Steven Eryaku. Eryaku according to sources allegedly phoned Okello and they met later at Grand Pacific hotel in Lira town.

Since then, his phone went off and he has not returned to his home or his work. It’s nearly two weeks but police and other government sources consistently denied knowledge of Okello’s whereabouts.

The ‘Habeas Corpus’ filled at Lira High court by the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) lawyer Makmot Kibwanga demanded the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and the Internal Security Organ Commander to explain the unlawful detention of a journalist.

The application seeks court to order the three commanders appear in court and give reasons as to why a journalist continued to be detained incommunicado.

The Uganda’s constitution prohibit anybody to be detained beyond 48 hours after his/her arrest meaning that such a person shall have the right to access to his family, a lawyer, and a doctor which Okello continue to be denied.

Article 23 (2) of the Constitution of Republic of Uganda requires that a person arrested, restricted or detained shall be kept in a place authorized by the law. And where one is illegally detained, sub article (9) can be applied and its states that the right to an order of habeas corpus shall be inviolable and shall not be suspended.

According to Human Rights Watch statement released On July 23, it quoted the police inspector general, Gen. Kale Kaihura confirming that Okello “was arrested by the security and is to appear in court soon” but Okello’s precise location remains unknown.

“We have sued the trio to bring the suspect to court or show-cause why they should continue to detain Okello. The continued detention is very illegal” said lawyer Makmot Kibwanga

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The order to produce Otim for trial was made on 6th/May/2011 by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court in Charge of Criminal Division Elizabeth Kabanda to Luzira National remand prison authorities where Otim has been for a period of two years.

Otim was kidnapped from his residence in 2009 from Pader district by plain cloth security operatives and detained in incommunicado for six weeks on unknown reasons. It was until Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) sued the Chief of Defense Forces Aronda Nyakairima and the then Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) boss Leo Kyanda through a Habeas Corpus for unlawfully detention that’s when he appeared.

Security forces defied a court order which had been issued earlier instructing them to produce Otim to High court but instead he and the other 9 suspects were taken to a subordinate magistrate court and charged with two counts of treason and concealment to treason.

Otim who is on remand in Luzira upper prison alleged that he was moved from one illegal detention to another in different parts of the country before he was brought to court. “I was tortured by the army using numerous forms including tying heavy objects on my private parts. I sustained body injuries,”said Otim.

Two attempts to secure a bail for Otim have been made by HRNJ-Uganda lawyer Ladislaus Rwakafuuzi since he was committed to high court for trail early 2010 but all efforts have so far been fruitless.

“We welcome the development because many inmates on committal are languishing in most prisons in Uganda. It’s our desire hope that Otim will get justice at last,” said HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairperson Robert Ssempala.

He said, HRNJ-Uganda will attend all trial sessions until the judgment day to ensure that justice prevails because it was not in the interest of the Ugandan government to take Otim and others to courts of law. HRNJ-Uganda calls upon the Judiciary to expedite the trail process because   suspects have over stayed on remand.   Otim is appearing before Justice Monica Mugenyi.

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Bukedde television is part of the vision group a company with which government owns majority shares.

Ssebalamu was arrested on 20^th/June/2011 at 5:30pm at a village meeting to which he had been invited by residents of Kitara, Katabi Sub County Wakiso district to offer coverage.

The meeting was intended to resolve matters concerning witch craft where one resident corpol Male Namukangula was being accused of being at the center of the problem.

Eye witness Kato Suleiman said  that Ssebalamu was roughed up and clobbered by a group of police men using batons and gun handles after refusing to stop filming the event.

Kato said, the Officer in Charge of Kisubi police post Ahmed Madiri grabbed Ssebalamu by the collar and slapped him as other police men kicked him.

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.

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