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

In support of the IFEX-Latin America and the Caribbean (IFEX-ALC) mission to the Honduras UPR in Geneva, IFEX members provided recommendations regarding the country’s freedom of expression record.

Since Abdirahman Mohamed Farole became president on 11 January 2009, journalists have been arrested, physically assaulted, suspended, censored and even killed, and the operations of news media organisations have been threatened, closed or restricted.

Although radio stations CBS 88.8 FM and 89.2 FM have reopened, they are still in discussions with the Broadcasting Council to have their licences reinstated.

IFEX members called on the Burmese government and the governments of the ASEAN to ensure freedom of expression, access to information, democratic values and human rights are respected during this critical moment in the electoral history of Burma.

The Masaka district police commander said the suspects were arrested and released on bond two hours later, after recording a statement.

Bwekumbule Frank, a reporter for the Masaka-based Top Radio, was beaten by a mob who accused him of interfering in family matters.

With increased reports of killings, beating, assaults and threats to journalists, the space under which media exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms is increasingly being narrowed.

In the first six months of 2010, over 30 journalists reported harassment or suffered some kind of abuse at the hands of state bodies or media-targeting mobs.