Museveni’s Military mercilessly beats up Journalists in front of United Nations Human Rights Offices: The UN should stop the pretence that Neo-liberal dictatorships can be democracies that uphold human rights

 

Military police beats up 8 journalists covering Bobi Wine at UN offices 

https://observer.ug/news/headlines/68514-military-police-beats-up-8-journalists-covering-bobi-wine

February 17, 2021

 

Written by BAKER BATTE

 

 

At least eight journalists from six media houses are nursing injuries after military police mercilessly pounced on them and beat them with batons near the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights offices in Kololo today. 

The journalists were covering National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, who had gone to deliver a petition to the UN over continued human rights violations in the country which include arbitrary arrests, murders, kidnaps among others

Among those most injured were NTV journalist, John Cliff Wamala who was hit on the head causing a deep cut. Others include; Timothy Mulungi and Henry Sekanjako of New Vision, Josephine Namakumbi and Joseph Sabiti of NBS TV, Irene Abalo Otto of Daily Monitor, Geoffrey Twesigye of NTV and Amina Nalule of Galaxy FM, among others. The Observer photojournalist Nicholas Bamulanzeki's camera was also damaged. 

Kyagulanyi left the NUP offices in Kamwokya with a group of aides and party officials but the police had earlier warned the UN office was only expecting three people accompanying Kyagulanyi, a directive he defied.

He arrived at the UN offices located on Prince Charles Drive in Kololo, a few minutes to 1 pm, and only his vehicle was granted access by the heavily deployed security. As soon as his car entered the UN premises, security ordered other vehicles to leave the vicinity immediately. Within seconds after the directive, military police descended on Makindye East MP-elect Derrick Nyeko's vehicle shuttering its windows and windscreen. 

After the assault on Nyeko, the military withdrew from the scene, leaving security in the hands of the police. The police then mounted a human blockade near the Ethiopian Embassy barring anybody from accessing the UN High Commission for Human Rights offices.

The journalists then camped just behind the human blockade waiting for Kyagulanyi to leave the building which was quite some distance from where they were. For about 30 minutes it appeared as though there was a mutual understanding between the police and the journalists that this was the point that won’t be crossed.

Meanwhile, two military vehicles with about 20 officers returned to the scene and then drove away towards the UN office. After about 10 minutes, the same vehicles returned where the journalists together with some politicians and NUP bloggers who normally move with Kyagulanyi had pitched camp. As soon as the vehicles came to a stop, the commanding officer jumped out of it and then thundered.

“All of you get out of here.” But even before he could finish the sentence, the military had already pounced on journalists and everybody whipping them with batons indiscriminately.

For Nalule, the only reason why her head was not shuttered was that she has dreadlocks and was putting on a head scuff.
Aloysius Mukasa, the MP-elect for Lubaga South was also not spared by the military. He wondered why they would assault them in front of the seat of the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights. Mukasa whose coat was torn up by the military said its such actions that push the country to violence.

After chasing the media to about 300 meters from where they had camped, the military withdrew and again left the police to man the security. However, 15 minutes later they returned and chased them further away from the new spot where they had converged trying to catch some breath after a long chase.

This is not the first time that the military is assaulting journalists especially those covering Kyagulanyi. Throughout the two months of campaigning, journalists sustained injuries as police and other security agencies at times intentionally targeted them for reporting about what was taking place on the Kyagulanyi campaign trail.

 

Security forces accuse Bobi Wine, journalists of holding unlawful procession

https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/security-forces-accuse-bobi-wine-journalists-of-holding-unlawful-procession-3295254

Wednesday February 17 2021

 By Job Bwire

Police and UPDF on Wednesday accused National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine of holding unlawful procession as they justified attack on journalists who were covering the former presidential candidate as he delivered his petition to the United Nation Human Rights offices in Kampala.

At least 10 journalists were left nursing injuries after military personnel attached to the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) assaulted them while covering Mr Kyagulanyi who was accompanied by relatives of Ugandans who have been abducted by security operatives during and after elections.

The injured journalists include John Cliff Wamala, Geoffrey Twesigye and Irene Abalo of Nation Media Group, Shamim Nabakooza of Record TV, Henry Ssekanjako, Timothy Murungi of New Vision, Rashida Nakaayi of Galaxy FM, Josephine Namakumbi, Joseph Sabiti and Thomas Kitimbo of NBS TV.

"Today we went to the UN Human Rights office in Kampala to deliver a petition against the continuing abductions, torture and murder of our supporters. The military was waiting. Right outside the gate of the UN office, they attacked and beat up journalists and elected leaders! In a very contemptuous manner, they descended on everyone they could land on and beat them without mercy. They smashed windscreens of the vehicles we went with. Several colleagues were rushed to hospital. Museveni will certainly not force us into submission," Mr Kyagulanyi tweeted.

However, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango said they have opened an inquiry at Jinja Road Divisional Headquarters in Kampala to establish the circumstances under which journalists and other citizens were battered by military police an left nursing injuries.

Mr Onyango further said Mr Kyagulanyi who was reportedly scheduled to appear with three other NUP officials due to the Covid-19 protocols allegedly disregarded the guidelines and held an illegal procession and assembly involving boda bodas, motor vehicles and supporters walking on foot.

 

“Although we respect the rights of citizens to freely assemble and express themselves, the health and safety of all Ugandans and visitors, and rule of law remains our top priority. As a reminder, all unlawful rallies, assemblies and processions are still restricted under the health protocols in place. Therefore, due to the acts of overcrowding at the security perimeters near the UN offices, there was a great potential of breaching the security perimeter, which led to additional reinforcement that helped disperse the uncontrolled crowds,” Mr Onyango said.

“Unfortunately, a few people sustained injuries including journalists. We have opened an inquiry at Jinja Road Divisional Headquarters, to establish the circumstances under which the victims were injured. The findings will inform management on the next course of action,” he added.

The UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso said the group assaulted one of the security personnel at the cutoff point and that required they be pushed back forcefully.

"The procession with boda boda riders waited to force its way through carrying among them the non-identifiable journalists. The group assaulted one of the security personnel at the cut off point and that required they be pushed back forcefully. Hence the scuffle. Therefore, it is not correct to allege that journalists were targeted," she tweeted. 

However, Uganda Editors' Guild (UEG) and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) have condemned the brutality and urged the leadership of security forces to rein in on the rogue officers, ensure justice is served and journalists are protected as they execute their duties.

"As we have noted before, we will continue to document collective attacks against journalists and the individual officers who carry them out and those with operational command. Attacks on journalists will not go unrecorded or unpunished. Impunity shall not be allowed to thrive," reads part of a statement issued by the Editors' guild.

According to the editors, attacks on journalists in Uganda is one of the continued sustained attacks on civil liberties including breaches to freedom of association prior and in the aftermath of 2021 General elections with the actions undoing all the efforts of constitutionalism and the rule of law that have been undertaken for many decades.

Since December last year, more than 20 journalists have been targeted and assaulted by security operatives while on duty.