Human Rights Network for Journalists – Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

“The Congolese Government must make a determined effort towards guaranteeing freedom of expression, including media freedom, and freedom of association and assembly in line with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in the country.”

Following a spate of recent attacks on journalists by security forces, Uganda’s Minister of Internal Affairs has called for investigations into media freedom violations.

HRNJ-Uganda’s national coordinator, Robert Ssempala, and two other journalists were arrested and then released after peacefully walking to police headquarters to protest police violence against journalists.

Lwanga Andrew and Joseph Ssettimba were attacked as they covered a demonstration by a group of unemployed youths who were reportedly heading to the police headquarters in Naguru to petition the Inspector General of Police.

Journalist William Ntege had gone to parliament to petition the speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, over police brutality on journalists and other Ugandans.

Ronald Ssembuusi, a journalist formally working with the Central Broadcasting Services radio, has passed on, as a result of a deteriorating health condition. In October 2014, Ssembuusi was sentenced to a fine of one million shillings (USD 400) or a one year jail term for a story he reported on CBS radio in November 2011.

Police in Kampala arrested a bodaboda taxi cyclist on charges of assaulting Vision Group journalist Ismail Ddamba, back in April 2014.

HRNJ-Uganda vows to fight criminal defamation following the recent sentencing of Ronald Ssembuusi. Ssembussi was ordered to pay a large fine or serve a jail term over a story he aired in 2011.