Posts Tagged ‘Uganda’
May 23rd, 2011
Breathless narratives do not take full account of African realities, says Nick Young
(more…)
February 25th, 2011
A journalist was
attacked by a mob while covering the recent elections in Mbale district, south-eastern Uganda. Gerald Mutembu, who works for Wavah Broadcasting Service (WBS), was filming a scuffle between different groups fighting over the alleged bribery and intimidation tactics of supporters of the state minister for housing, Michael Werikhe. Six journalists have
reportedly been attacked in different parts of the country while covering the elections.
January 19th, 2011
The chief executive officer and managing director of Business Summit Review was
detained on January 11 after the magazine ran a cover cartoon depicting Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni slicing up a cake in celebration of 48 years of Uganda’s independence. Mustapha Mugisa was released a few hours after his arrest but faces charges of political offence.
November 2nd, 2010
A Ugandan judge has instructed the Rolling Stone newspaper to
stop publishing the names and photographs of people it claims are gay. Last month
the tabloid published names, photos, and addresses of 100 supposed homosexuals, alongside a banner that read, “Hang them.” The injunction came following a request by the gay rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). The group says some
gay people were attacked after Rolling Stone published the information. Editor Giles Muhame was unrepentant, saying,
“We will publish more pictures but in a diplomatic way, so that we can dodge the law” and
“ I haven’t seen the court injunction but the war against gays will and must continue. We have to protect our children from this dirty homosexual affront”.
September 22nd, 2010
Kampala metropolitan police chief Andrew Sorowen announced on 20 September that public gatherings involving more than five people
must be cleared by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). He added that the measure also applied to wedding receptions and funerals, citing the threat of terrorism as justification. Police deputy spokesperson Vincent Sekatte later
said that official clearance was not required for private assemblies, but advised citizens wishing to hold such events to inform the IGP first. The new guidelines come amidst
outrage at the government’s proposed Public Order Management Bill, which would require organisers of rallies and demonstrations to obtain approval from the police.
September 17th, 2010
A radio news anchor and opposition political activist in Uganda’s central district Mukono was
beaten to death with metal bars on 13 September. Dickson Ssentongo routinely
read the 7 a.m. news bulletins for Prime Radio station in the Luganda language, but now becomes the second journalist to be killed in the country in three days. On Saturday, the journalist Paul Kiggundu was
beaten to death by taxi-drivers. Both Kiggindu and Ssetongo died in hospital some hours after being attacked. No arrests have been made in either case.
September 14th, 2010
A correspondent for Uganda’s Tower of Praise Radio was
beaten to death by motorcycle taxi drivers on the night of 11 September. Paul Kiggundu was ambushed by the bikers, known locally as
boda-boda, while he was filming some of them demolishing a house. The drivers accused Kiggundu of working for the police, despite his attempts to identify himself as a journalist. The building was reportedly the home of another driver, Frank Kagayi, who the attackers accuse of committing
murder and robbery. The journalist died of internal bleeding at Kalisizo Government Hospital. No arrests have been made.
August 27th, 2010
The Constitutional Court has declared Uganda’s
law on sedition null and void. Journalists will no longer be legally prevented from criticising President Yoweri Museveni or his government. A panel of five judges ruled on 25 August that the law violated the public’s right to free speech, which is guaranteed in Uganda’s constitution. The executive secretary of the Media Council of Uganda
Haruna Kanaabi said that the law has often been used as a way of silencing dissent, particularly ahead of next year’s general elections.
The government has announced that it will be appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision.
