KAARO KARUNGI | KAMPALA – The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has asked the High Court in Kampala to allow them settle through a reconciliation process the case in which a city lawyer Steven Kalali sued government on behalf of journalists who were battered a few months ago.
On February 22 2021, human rights lawyer Kalali sued the government for the actions of a section of the UPDF soldiers who battered journalists as they were going to cover an activity by former National Unity Platform-Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Kyagulanyi had on February 17th 2021 gone to deliver his petition to the United Nations High Commission in Kololo challenging gross human rights violations in the country.
But according to Kalali, on the fateful day, military police officers descended on journalists who were performing their lawful duties and started beating them indiscriminately leaving many of them with injuries. He named Henry Ssekanjako and Timothy Murungi from Vision group, Cliff Wamala from NTV and Josephine Namakumbi from NBS TV as some of the journalists who were injured by the officers.
As such, Kalali noted that previously the agents of government have violated the Constitutional articles guaranteeing freedom of press and also infringed on the journalist’s right to practice their profession.
Kalali thus asked court to issue orders restraining government security agencies permanently from acting with impunity, malice and interfering with the rights of all media houses and journalists in the peaceful pursuit of their work as well as an order for damages.
However today, the government which was being represented by State Attorney Brian Musota asked to be allowed to settle the matter out of court saying there is a reconciliation process between the two parties. Musota made his submission today while appearing before the Assistant Registrar of High Court Civil Division Agnes Alum who adjourned the case to June 14th 2021 on behalf of the Trial Judge Boniface Wamala who was away attending a workshop.
