*Lwengo, 06th/April/2012; *The local government leadership for Lwengo district has banned the councillors from speaking to the media on any matter regarding the council without the approval of the district council speaker, while the district chairperson George Mutabaazi has threatened to arrest a journalist over a news story. The council resolution followed a news story […]
*Lwengo, 06th/April/2012; *The local government leadership for Lwengo
district has banned the councillors from speaking to the media on any
matter regarding the council without the approval of the district council
speaker, while the district chairperson George Mutabaazi has threatened to
arrest a journalist over a news story.
The council resolution followed a news story ran on the Buganda owned
Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio about the absence of both the
Kabaka of Buganda(King) and President Yoweri Museveni’ portraits in the
district council hall.
The story was reported by the CBS correspondent for
The Greater Masaka area Jimmy Ssekabiito. Ssekabiito is an Executive Board
Member of the region’s journalists body South Buganda Journalists
Association (SOBUJA).
The matter was raised during a council meeting by the district councilor
representing Ndagwe Sub-county Abdul Kabugo Mugendawala and supported by
the councilor for Lwengo Town Council Anthony Luwagga among others. The
Woman Member of Parliament for Lwengo district Gertrude Nakabira attended
the meeting and advised against the move to keep away the portarits.
The district chairperson George Mutabaazi was angered by the story and
threatened to arrest and take action against Ssekabiito for reporting the
story. The District Council Speaker Joe Walusimbi banned all councilors
from talking to the media without prior permission from him on any matter
about the district affairs.
The council also resolved that Kabugo apologises for passing on the story
to the media. He was given up to one week to do so or risk a ban of not
attending two district council meetings and forfeiting sitting allowances
for the two meetings. Kabugo vowed not to heed to pressure and threatened
to go to court if the council went ahead with implementing the resolution.
The portraits which raised the storm were however put in the council hall
forth with. Efforts by HRNJ-Uganda to talk to Mutabaazi were futile.
SOBUJA vowed to resist the council resolutions of restricting reporting of
news in the district to a chosen few journalists and banning of councilors
from speaking to the media without prior permission.
“We are opposed to the resolution and will vehemently fight on until they
are rescinded. We can’t let the politicians decide on who and how to report
news from the district and which councilor should talk to us.” said the
SOBUJA Secretary General Sadab Kitata Kaaya.
Ssekabiito re-affirmed that what he reported was factual and he was ready
to defend himself at any time. “Mutabaazi said that he was looking for me.
I don’t know what he wants to do, but am ready to defend my story because
it was based on facts of what went on in the meeting.” He told HRNJ-Uganda.
This comes at a time when another CBS reporter for Kalangala district
Ronald Ssembuusi is facing trial for alleged defamation when he reported
that the former district chairperson Daniel Kikoola was being investigated
for the disappearance of solar panel donated to the district.
“This is a very unfortunate decision by the district council. Its not in
conformity with the recent parliamentary decision to allow the media carry
their camera and other electronic gadgets to the press gallery to cover
plenary sessions. We hope that the council rescinds this decision
unconditionally. The council is made up of people’s representatives, so
they need to be informed of whatever happens in the council, and it’s the
media to play this noble role of holding the district leadership
accountable. Any move to block the media would be leaving the voters
ignorant of what happens in the district. We welcome the position taken by
SOBUJA.” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programme Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala.
*
*
*For More Information Contact;*
* Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)*
* Kivebulaya Road – Mengo Kampala Opp. St. Marcelino Pre. School*
* P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala*
* Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627*
* E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org*
*
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk*
* Website: www.hrnjuganda.org*
* BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com*
Lwengo, 06 th /April/2012;
The local government leadership for Lwengo district has banned the councillors
from speaking to the media on any matter regarding the council without the
approval of the district council speaker, while the district chairperson George
Mutabaazi has threatened to arrest a journalist over a news story.
The council resolution followed a news story ran on the
Buganda owned Central Broadcasting Service (CBS) radio about the absence of
both the Kabaka of Buganda(King) and President Yoweri Museveni’ portraits in
the district council hall. The story was
reported by the CBS correspondent for The Greater Masaka area Jimmy Ssekabiito.
Ssekabiito is an Executive Board Member of the region’s journalists body South
Buganda Journalists Association (SOBUJA).
The matter was raised during a council meeting by the
district councilor representing Ndagwe Sub-county Abdul Kabugo Mugendawala and
supported by the councilor for Lwengo Town Council Anthony Luwagga among
others. The Woman Member of Parliament for Lwengo district Gertrude Nakabira
attended the meeting and advised against the move to keep away the portarits.
The district chairperson George Mutabaazi was angered by the
story and threatened to arrest and take action against Ssekabiito for reporting
the story. The District Council Speaker Joe Walusimbi banned all councilors
from talking to the media without prior permission from him on any matter about
the district affairs.
The council also resolved that Kabugo apologises for passing
on the story to the media. He was given up to one week to do so or risk a ban
of not attending two district council meetings and forfeiting sitting
allowances for the two meetings. Kabugo vowed not to heed to pressure and
threatened to go to court if the council went ahead with implementing the
resolution.
The portraits which raised the storm were however put in the
council hall forth with. Efforts by HRNJ-Uganda to talk to Mutabaazi were futile.
SOBUJA vowed to resist the council resolutions of
restricting reporting of news in the district to a chosen few journalists and
banning of councilors from speaking to the media without prior permission.
“We are opposed to the resolution and will vehemently fight
on until they are rescinded. We can’t let the politicians decide on who and how
to report news from the district and which councilor should talk to us.” said
the SOBUJA Secretary General Sadab Kitata Kaaya.
Ssekabiito re-affirmed that what he reported was factual and
he was ready to defend himself at any time. “Mutabaazi said that he was looking
for me. I don’t know what he wants to do, but am ready to defend my story
because it was based on facts of what went on in the meeting.” He told HRNJ-Uganda.
This comes at a time when another CBS reporter for Kalangala
district Ronald Ssembuusi is facing trial for alleged defamation when he
reported that the former district chairperson Daniel Kikoola was being
investigated for the disappearance of solar panel donated to the district.
“This is a very unfortunate decision by the district
council. Its not in conformity with the recent parliamentary decision to allow
the media carry their camera and other electronic gadgets to the press gallery
to cover plenary sessions. We hope that the council rescinds this decision
unconditionally. The council is made up of people’s representatives, so they
need to be informed of whatever happens in the council, and it’s the media to
play this noble role of holding the district leadership accountable. Any move
to block the media would be leaving the voters ignorant of what happens in the
district. We welcome the position taken by SOBUJA.” Said HRNJ-Uganda Programme
Coordinator Wokulira Ssebaggala.
For
More Information Contact;
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda
(HRNJ-Uganda)
Kivebulaya Road – Mengo Kampala Opp. St.
Marcelino Pre. School
P.O.BOX. 71314 Clock Tower Kampala
Tel: +256-414-272934 / +256-414-667627
E-mail: news@hrnjuganda.org
humanrajournalists@yahoo.co.uk
Website: www.hrnjuganda.org
BLOG: http://hrnjuganda.blogpost.com
