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Plain textUganda Entertainment Journalists To Meet Kayihura Over Harrassment
Ugandan entertainment journalists under their umbrella organization, Society Press Club, will on Friday hold a peaceful march in Kampala to protest police’s negligence in handling cases in which their colleagues have been assaulted by celebrities.
The journalists accuse police of deliberately “sitting” on cases where musicians are accused of assault.
Led by Red Pepper entertainment expert Claude Muhigirwa, the society scribes now want to take their grievances to the Inspector General of Police Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura.
“We want to meet Kayihura and tell him what we have always gone through. Society journalists are always beaten and report to police but case files disappear at CID offices,” said Muhigirwa.
He cites cases involving Desire Ndyomugabi, then with Red pepper and The Onion. He was beaten by Chameleone and his crew outside Angenoir discotheque.
“His case was reported at Jinja Road police station. But as we tried to open a case against the singer, the policeman on duty told us that we were wasting our time reporting Chameleone. He told us that the man is untouchable. Indeed the file disappeared,” said Muhigirwa in a Thursday interview with Chimpreports.com Entertainment Desk.
“We used our friendly operatives from CMI and JATT to arrest the singer but sadly not every journalist has friends in these security organs.”
Bukedde’s Miles Rwamiti and Star TV journalist Lwasama’s case files against Good Lyfe also disappeared in thin air at CID, according to Muhigirwa.
“Practically, police is doing nothing to protect entertainment journalists who are always beaten and their gadgets such as expensive cameras and recorders destroyed,” added Muhigirwa.
The development comes at a time when New Vision journalist Pidson Kareire is nursing terrible wounds on his head following an attack by an identified mzungu at Kampala’s posh hangout Club Silk last Thursday.
Recently, a celebrity destroyed Red Pepper’s Michael Kakumirizi’s Shs3m camera during public function in Bukoto, Kampala.
Journalists in Uganda are not only harassed by celebrities but also security services especially police.
A few months ago, Uganda’s best photojournalist Edward Echwalu was brutally assaulted by police as he covered the arrest of opposition leader Col. Kizza Besigye at Kiira Road Police Station.
Muhigirwa said journalists want police to always investigate such cases and hold culprits liable.
Kampala Police publicist Ibin Ssenkumbi was not readily available for comment.
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Updated on 2013-05-09 09:25 |
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