Journalists and human rights activists have today condemned the action by the government to close down two newspapers and two radio stations for their reporting on the controversial letter by Gen. David Sejusa.

Police officers today sealed off offices of Daily Monitor, armed with a search warrant. But the search turned into closure as the police led by Criminal Investigations Department Deputy Director Godfrey Musana said the Daily Monitor premises are a crime scene. The police also sealed off offices of Red Pepper, a daily tabloid and declared it a crime scene too.

The security operatives switched off the printeries of the newspapers, as well kfm and Dembe fm to the astonishment of the staff of two media establishments.

“Instead of carrying out the search, the armed men disabled the printing press, computer servers and radio transmission equipment.”“The intention was to prevent the monitor from operating, broadcasting and printing its newspapers. We are horrified by this act, which is a gross disregard of the Ugandan law and a violation of the Monitor’s constitutional right,” said Alex Asiimwe, Daily Monitor’s Managing Director .

In a press statement, Police Spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said the police received intelligence information that there are people who have started scanning signatures of senior government officials “with the intention of using the said signatures on documents claiming they are officials documents from government whereas not.”

The Uganda Journalists Association President Joshua Kyalimpa and the Coordinator of the Uganda Journalists Human Rights Network Wokulira Sebagala issues statements today condemning the government for what they termed as attack on press freedom and freedom of expression.

These events are a result of coverage of Gen. Sejusa’s controversial letter first published by Daily Monitor on May 7. The letter by Gen. Sejusa aka Tinyefuza was written to the Director of the Internal Security Organisation to investment claims that there is a plot to assassinate or link to rebellion senior army and government officials allegedly against “Muhoozi project”   an alleged plan to have the president’s son succeed him in State House.

Gen. Sejusa, the coordinator of intelligence agencies is said to have mentioned himself Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, Chief of Defence Forces Aronda Nyakairima among the people being framed.

In an email showed to journalists by a Kampala his lawyer Joseph Luzige, Gen. Sejusa accepted to have written the letter but said he handed it over to the Director of ISO himself and is not sure how it got to journalists.

Here are more articles and documents on the matter

Court orders Daily Monitor journalists to name source– African Center for Media Excellence

Monitor offices under police siege -Daily Monitor

Military officer’s assassination allegations ensnare journalists

‘Warning to media against undermining national security’

Police question Monitor journalists as government moves to gag media

President’s aide storms newspaper office, threatens journalists

Govt is tampering with right to know

ISO agent arrested at Monitor, Gen Tinye’s case goes to court

Oguttu accuses UCC, minister of intimidating journalists

UCC (Uganda Communiction Commision) warning.pdf

Police statement on Daily Monitor Red Pepper premises search 20-05-13.docx

Police statement on Daily Monitor Red Pepper premises search 20-05-13.docx

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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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As part of the events to mark the WPFD, a press freedom day panel discussion has been organised to discuss issues pertaining to press freedom and new media in Uganda.

Denis Jjuuko is one of the panelists

The panel discussion taking place at Imperial Royale Hotel are organised by the Uganda Journalists Association in conjunction with DDP, US Embassy in Uganda, Human Rights Center Uganda, Makerere University Department of Journalism and Communication and the Uganda Communications Commission.

According to Joshua Kyalimpa, the President of UJA, the vent is being held under the theme “Extending Frontiers, Removing Barriers to Free and Pluralistic Media in Uganda.”

The panel discussion are on the role of social and digital media in extending freedom of expression, to be hosted by Peter Kibazo and discussed by Dr Shaka Sali of the Voice of America, Engineer Godfrey Mutabazi of the Uganda communications Commission and Denis Juuko, a Journalist and social media enthusiast.

Another panel discussion on the pleasures and pitfalls of critical media in Uganda, Public and civil society’s expectations of the media will be chaired by Dr George Lugalambi the Head of Makerere University Department of Journalism and Communication, and will be discussed by Daniel Kalinaki of Daily Monitor, Godbar Tumushabe of Accord and Barbara Among of The New Vision.

The 3^rd Panel will be on what does the future hold for the media in Uganda? It will be discussed by Andrew Mwenda of the Independent magazine, Fred Opolot of the Uganda Media Centre, and Haruna Kanabi of the Independent Media Council of Uganda.

Weinformers.net is bringing you these discussion live, with feeds from other WPFD events worldwide. You can follow and participate here or through facebook and twitter. The twitter hashtags for the event at #WPFD, #Uganda press freedom, #Uganda Media freedom.

Ultimate Media

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Margaret Sekaggya

Sekaggya made the call during celebrations at the centenary park in Kampala to mark world press freedom day scheduled for Tuesday May 3^rd 2010.

Sekaggya has appealed to journalists to put pressure on the government to make sure the observers are invited to assess the press freedom degree in Uganda.

She says the media and journalists in Uganda are facing several challenges especially when covering human rights abuses by government security agencies.

Uganda journalists will on Tuesday join the rest of the world to mark the World Press Freedom Day,  which is globally being marked under the theme “21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers”

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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