|
A report on media freedom in Uganda released by The Human Rights Network for Journalists in January, under its Press Freedom Index For 2009 shows that 2009 was a year during which the mistreating and torturing of journalists in Uganda by security agencies reached an alarming scale.
This report, presented by the organization's spokesperson, Ssebagala Wokulira, stated that in the year 2009, there was a higher level of curtailment of the right to freedom of expression. It added that Uganda is one of the countries on the globe that have misused criminal defamation , libel, slander, and sedition to quell legitimate criticism by journalists on matters of public interest.
 "As the media, it is a disappointment to see that all the existing government regulatory institutions are full of un professional government representation. We wonder why the government should intervene with the communication broadcast by the media. It should make sure that before doing this, it revises the provisions of the international covenant on civil and political rights". Wokulira said.
The report chastised the government for "committing the grave mistake of banning outside radio talk shows commonly known as "ebimeeza" claiming that the stations failed to control the contents of these programs." The report argued that the radio stations were providing platforms to all works of life, enhancing democracy and providing a mechanism for the people to check leadership and making them more countable.
About eight radio stations were airing the public forum programmes, including the Central Broadcasting Service (C.B.S), which remains closed on government orders, Radio Two (Akaboozi ku Bbiri), Radio Simba, Radio One, Bukedde Fm, Radio Star, Uganda Broadcasting Service Television (UBC TV), among others.
Wokulira said that the media fraternity in Uganda is concerned due to what he called government hatred geared towards journalists especially as the 2011 general elections draw close.
According to the report the police has proposed an amendment of the existing laws to allow the extension of the detention trial period from the current 48 hrs to 3 months before an accused person is produced before a court of law. Wokulira argued that if such amendments are made to our constitution, journalists in Uganda would be subjected to greater risk. Experience in Uganda shows that Police and other security agencies have routinely carried out illegal arrests and detention against journalists before carrying out any investigations which is a legal requirement. To amend the law would give police more latitude to abuse, silence or harass journalists for their professional work.
The report noted that last year eighteen journalists were fired from work by media houses under duress by the state. these included Robert Sserumaga of radio one, Anthony Kibuuka and Hebert Yawe Kabanda of Radio Buddu, Peter Kibazo of WBS/Simba, Charles Odongo Otto of Vision Voice, and Matovu Joy of Radio Sapientia, among others. Nine Journalists faced temporary arrests without charges and 35 journalists who were threatened and attacked in course of their duties in 2009. According to the report 21 journalist were charged with trumped up charges ranging from criminal trespass, criminal defamation, Secterianism and treason as in the case of Patrick Otim of Mega fm.
HRNJ advised government to disband all the existing government regulatory institutions and establish one National Media Commission which is primarily constituted by professionals with the industry, with minority government representation to deal with all media related issues and freedom of expression . The state was also advised to reform the defamation law to ensure that offences against journalists incur only in civil penalties and considering that freedom of expression could be exercised by criticizing public policies and the authorities responsible for producing or implementing them, and that defamation should not be punishable by imprisonment or closure of any media house.
|
