KAWEMPE– Journalists under their umbrella body of Uganda Journalists’ Association (UJA) have given the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola an ultimatum of two weeks to take disciplinary action against two of his officers accused of torturing into coma Bukedde Newspaper Journalist Moses Lemisa.
Vision Group Journalist Moses Lemisa way back. (Courtesy photo)
According to the Statement issued on Friday evening by UJA Spokesperson Kabuye Ronald, the torture acts against Lemisa were carried out on him during his course of work at Kapapaali Mulago Police post on Thursday 22nd February 2024.
“Lemisa was brutally arrested by two of the many Police officers that had gathered at that Police post for an eviction operation as he followed up a certain story around the same area and charged with criminal trespass on the Police post.”
Kabuye noted that the unfortunate bit of the story is that during the arresting process,the arresting officers deliberately pushed down Lemisa to the ground where his head was hit hard which left him with bruises
That before this incident, Lemisa had already introduced himself and the officers attacked him well knowing that he was a journalist.
“His work tools; a camera, phone and identification card were taken away from him by the same police officers on top of picking money from the journalist’s pocket before he was thrown inside the police cells where he lost conscious and fainted almost to death.”
That Lemisa’s health had since then worsened to the extent that he earlier on during the day, he dropped to faint again in his car today as he drove to one of the health facilities in Mpererwe as he went to seek further medical attention.
Its from the above background that the Journalists’ body wants the errant officers publicly apologize to Lemisa, compensate his damaged camera, foot his medical bill and return his lost money.
“If no response is made in reference to the above, UJA will explore other means including mobilizing a demonstration of journalists against increased impunity on us and seeking legal redress. This will help us with ensuring that justice prevails for all our brutalized journalists.”
Lemisa’s arrest and detention now brings to a total number of two journalists that have been arrested in a period of only two weeks. The first one to be arrested was Julius Tukacungurwa Mugagga of Umoja online Website who was arrested and detained at Jinja road Police Station on Wednesday 7th February 2024.
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