Two journalists Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya and Gertrude Mutyaba Lilian both Daily Monitor correspondents in Masaka District have on February 10, 2016, testified against a former contender for the ruling party parliamentary seat for Lwengo, Eddie Ssansa in an assault and malicious damage to property criminal case.

Shamim told court, presided over by Grade 1 Magistrate Aisha Nabukeera at the Masaka Chief Magistrates Court, that on October 28, 2015 while at the Masaka Regional Police Headquarters was beaten by Ssansa for asking him an “embarrassing question” about his debts. She said that Ssansa slapped her, smashed her cell phone and squeezed her breasts in full view of other journalists.

“When I asked him to say something about his debts, which was said to be the reason for his arrest, Ssansa brutally turned against me and asked why I was asking such a question if I had not simply been given money to ask him such a question. He grabbed my phone and smashed it, slapped me in the face and indecently squeezed my breasts in the presence of my fellow journalists,” Shamim told court.

In her testimony, Mutyaba told court that on the fateful day, she saw Ssansa grabbing Shamim’s phone, hit it down and shattering its screen. “I saw Ssansa beating Shamim, squeezing her breasts after asking him a question about his indebtedness,” Mutyaba told court.

Prosecution led by Moureen Tusiime alleges that on October 28, 2016, Eddie Ssansa assaulted Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya and damaged her cell phone.

Ssansa lost the National Resistance Movement primaries as a flag bearer for a parliamentary seat in Lwengo District.

The case was adjourned to March 11, 2016 when the medical doctor and the investigating officer are expected to testify.

We are glad that the process of Shamim getting justice has started, we hope and pray that justice prevails at the end of exercise.” said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.

Credit: HRNJ-Uganda

This Alert was originally published by HRNJ-Uganda on February 4, 2016.

Hearing of a Wavah Broadcasting Services (WBS) television journalist, Andrew Lwanga’ assault case has taken a new twist with the emergency of ‘new things’ on the case file which needed court’s attention in chambers.

Prosecution led by Jonathan Muwaganya prayed for an adjournment in light of the new discoveries. “We have discovered issues on the file that need conferencing in chambers and discuss how to proceed in the next adjournment.” Muwaganya told a court fully packed with journalists and other well-wishers. He however did not disclose the nature of the new discoveries on the file to court presided over by the Principal Grade One Magistrate, Eremye James.

Muwaganya further informed court that the medical doctor who was supposed to appear in court for cross examination had not turned up. Meanwhile Lwanga’s damaged camera which was received and labeled by the investigating officer Moureen Angenyo and kept in the exhibits store at the Central Police Station in Kampala was missing during the last hearing on January 14, 2016, and its whereabouts remain unknown to date.

Lwanga missed attending the court session because he was experiencing severe pain and dizziness. He however was carried to court only to get the case adjourned to February 29, 2016. He told journalists at court that he can’t or walk on his own due to severe back and neck pain. A fundraising campaign has since been launched for the USD 55,000 needed for his operation in an American hospital.

Meanwhile a group of youth beat the court’s security and demonstrated at court hold placards demanding for expeditious trial of the case and occasioning justice to Lwanga and other victim journalists in Uganda. The youth called for protection of journalists while on duty.

Mwesigye, the former District Police Commander of Old Kampala Division is charged with assaulting Lwanga and maliciously damaging his camera, on January 12, 2015 as he was covering a demonstration by a group of unemployed youths in Kampala. Lwanga sustained serious injuries as a result of the beatings.

“We are deeply concerned with the manner in which police has conducted itself in this matter. The investigating officer only turned up in court after a lot of pressure was mounted upon her. We cannot rule out that the fact that the camera disappearance was intended to frustrate the case.” Said the HRNJ-Uganda National Coordinator, Robert Ssempala.

This Alert was originally published by HRNJ-Uganda on January 27, 2016.

Hearing of a criminal defamation case in which four journalists Ronald Nahebwa, Benon Tugumisirize, Madina Nalwanga are accused of  defaming city tycoons continued on January 27, 2016 with one of the  prosecution witnesses Ephraim Ntaganda revealing that he never complained to police about the journalists.

Ntaganda who was cross-examined by four lawyers, told court that he did not lodge a complaint at police against the four journalists but rather  against Juma Ssegawa Tamale a city business man with whom they have a land dispute. Asked whether he was sure the journalists are the ones who wrote and published the defamatory stories he is complaining about; Ntaganda told court presided over by Buganda Road Chief Magistrate, Kalemani James, that he is not a ‘specialist’ to know who writes and publishes stories in newspapers.

Prosecution alleges that the four journalists on May 18, 31 and June 4, 2015 published in Bukedde and Red Pepper newspapers defamatory statements against Kampala city businessmen Drake Lubega and Ephraim Ntaganda. That the stories published suggested that the duo were trailing Ssegawa Tamale Juma to kill him over land ownership disputes. They further alleged that Juma Ssegawa Tamale  told them that Ntaganda) was conniving with Drake Lubega and others to forcefully grab his land and had hired boda boda (commercial) cyclists to trail the said Juma  threatening to kill him if he does not leave the land.

The journalists are represented by Wameli Anthony, Tom Ochaya, Tonny Kirabira and Joseph Kiryowa. Prosecution is led by Peter Mugisha. The case was adjourned to March 4, 2016 for further hearing