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

William Ntege was pepper-sprayed and detained by police while camping outside the police headquarters in Kampala. He was demanding compensation for a video camera which police destroyed last October, when the journalist was covering the arrest of an opposition leader.

A new report by HRNJ-Uganda shows that 42 of the 85 attacks on journalist registered by HRNJ-Uganda in 2012 were by the police force. The attacks ranged from physical beatings to direct pepper spraying, illegal arrests and detentions, manhandling, and stealing property.

Police have arrested nine activists who were distributing news bulletins about the Black Monday Movement in Kampala. This is the third time that members of an anti-corruption civil society group are arrested and questioned by police for distributing such information to the public.

Uganda’s broadcast regulatory body has suspended a talk-show host working for Endigito FM radio in Western Uganda. The radio station also suspended its current affairs programme, ‘Ekitandaro,’ citing pressure from the government.

Thirty IFEX members protested the sentencing of bloggers, citizen journalists and rights activists, jailed for up to 13 years in the biggest ever trial of pro-democracy activists in Vietnam.

Arthur Larok and Leonard Okello were arrested by police on 7 January after distributing news bulletins dubbed “Black Monday” at a roundabout in Kampala.

Unknown assailants set fire to Robert Muhereza’s home on 8 December. The journalist had previously reported on events related to fighting between M23 rebels and DR Congo forces at border between Uganda and the DR Congo.

A journalist for Radio Simba was beaten by policemen and Kampala Capital City Authority officers for “disorganizing” their work. Bwejiire was attempting to record them impounding a commuter taxi that had allegedly defaulted KCCA monthly dues.