By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The Uganda Journalist’s Association (UJA) has tasked Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola to take immediate actions against police officers who brutally tortured a Vision Group journalist in Kampala.
Moses Lemisa, a journalist working with Bukedde Newspaper, a subsidiary of Vision Group was on February 22, brutally tortured by police officers who beat him into coma and his equipments and an unestimated amount of money confiscated while he was executing his duty at Mulago hospital.
It is alleged that the journalist was following up a story at Kapaapali police post in Mulago when two officers flogged him to the ground, beat and locked him in cells accusing him of criminal trespass despite identifying himself as a journalist. He was later rushed to a nearby clinic after he became so unconscious and other detainees demanded for his removal from detention.
“What makes it very disturbing to us is that the arresting officers deliberately pushed down Lemisa to the ground where his head was hit hard, leaving him with sustained bruises on it plus other body parts as well as damaging his camera, despite his identification to them,” UJA reported.
In a statement issued on February 23, the journalists’ body accused security of impunity and not giving any care to Lemisa while he was unconscious in prison.
“It is very unfortunate that the police officers who are charged with the duty of observing the law can be seen breaking it with impunity,” read a statement in parts.
According to UJA, Lemisa’s health has since worsened. He reportedly dropped to faint in his car today as he drove to one of the health facilities in Mpererwe to seek further medical attention.
“We feel that the torture that was occasioned on him is not only being illegal but also a blatant violation of his individual rights and press freedom in general.” UJA explained.
Ronald Kabuye, the association public relations officer (PRO) said in a statement that a swift action should be taken against the perpetrators of torture against journalists.
“We don’t want to believe that the Police harbours criminals, that’s why it’s authority must swiftly act,” Kabuye said.
The torture of Lemisa follow a recent arrest of Online journalist, Julius Tukacungura Mugaga of Umoja online News blog who was arrested and detained at Jinja road Police Station beyond constitutional 48hrs on Wednesday 7th February 2024.
It’s against this background that UJA issued a one week ultimatum to IGP Ochola demanding for immediate actions against his ‘boys’ lest they carry out mass mobilization of journalists across the country to demonstrate against gross violation of human rights of journalists in Uganda largely inflicted by police and other security agencies.
“Going forward, we therefore, demand the following; IGP investigate the two errant police officers and reprimand them in one-week time from the release date of this statement, and cause the errant officers apologize to Lemisa, compensate his damaged camera, foot his medical bill and return his taken money.
“If no response is made in reference to the above, UJA will explore other means including mobilizing a demonstration of journalists against increased impunity on us and seeking legal redress. This will help us with ensuring that justice prevails for all our brutalized journalists,” read parts of UJA statement.
