20110502
The monitor

At least 55 journalists suffered various forms of violence at the hands of security operatives and political party supporters over the last six months, a new report shows.

The Press Freedom Index Report launched in Kampala yesterday named the police as the leading tormentor of journalists accounting for 19 cases, followed by supporters of different political parties, with 12 cases.

The army came third with nine cases registered against it followed by individuals who caused anguish to seven journalists. The report comes as government on Sunday evening convened a meeting with members of the international media in Uganda and appealed for "more balanced coverage" in the walk-to-work campaign.

Government appeal

Government Chief Whip Daudi Migereko addressed about 15 members of the foreign press at the Uganda Media Centre, where he focused on how protests and riots have been portrayed in the media.

Mr Migereko focused his objections on the controversial footage of opposition leader Kizza Besigye's violent arrest last week - when security officers broke the windscreen of his vehicle and tear-gassed him directly in the face, causing temporary blindness, for which he is still undergoing treatment in Nairobi.

He said government's position is that there was an undue amount of focus paid to those events in particular, and not enough on the violent actions of protesters and hours-long standoff during which he said the FDC leader was antagonistic towards the police.

On the violence suffered by journalists, the report covering a six months period, also captured university students and Resident District Commissioners as being accountable for two cases each while media managers were blamed on three cases. One case remained unaccounted for, according to the report.

The index is aimed at bringing afore the plight of journalists and recommending future actions for the protection of media practitioners. It further discusses the key challenges, threats and violations faced by journalists.

Highest figure ever

"The six month period report documented 55 journalists who faced numerous cases of violence. This is the highest figure since HRNJ-Uganda started releasing PFI reports," reads the report in part.

The 92-page report was compiled by Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, an independent media advocacy network for human rights journalists.

The report recommends that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions drops all sedition charges and similar charges against journalists since the Constitutional Court ruled repealed this law from the penal code.

It was launched by Dr Margret Ssekajja, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. Earlier in the day, Ms Ssekajja led a procession of journalists and human rights activists on the streets of Kampala who braved the early morning downpour.

Both the procession and launch of the report were part of the activities to mark the World Press Freedom Day, which takes place today, under the theme, "21st Century Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers".

Ms Sekajja urged journalists not to be deterred by the brutality meted out by security personnel, saying they should instead unite and expose such cases.