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UGANDA: RIGHTS BODY CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT THREATS ON JUDICIARY, MEDIA March 24, 2006

Apunyu Bonny

(SomaliNet) A new human rights report launched yesterday, Thursday by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) has revealed that the Judiciary and media freedom in Uganda were in 2005 under more serious threat than ever.

The continued use of torture and illegal detention facilities (safe houses) as a method of “imposing their will on citizens,” by the security agencies was condemned by the Human Rights Status Report 2005 launched by FHRI.

“Generally, the space for media freedom has been shrinking since 2003. Whereas in 2003 the media was able to comment on a wide range of issues with limited government interference or harassment, in 2005 the situation was less rosy.”

Among illegal interventions by the security agencies highlighted by the report was the November 16 High Court siege by military men. According FHRI boss, Mr. Livingstone Sewanyana, the rights violations are on the increase and range from torture, illegal detention, violation of media freedom and freedom of expression.

Mean while, the report says that in 2005, the media faced State hostility when individual journalists were subjected to court action, threats, faced the risk of denial of operating licenses for standing out in defence of individual liberties and democratic governance.

The report cites the jailing of Daily Monitor political editor Andrew Mwenda and subsequent closure of Kfm, the summoning of Weekly Observer editor by the Criminal Investigation Department and several media bans issued by Nsaba Buturo. “The media ban had a very chilling effect on media freedom and more broadly free expression...”

The burning issue in the report was the 2005 November 16 court siege when over 30 armed men commonly known as Black Mambas surrounded the High Court as bail applications for treason suspects were being heard.

“Military personnel blocked all entrances into and exits from the court compound. The court was held hostage,” the report described the act as the “most naked and grotesque violation of the twin doctrines of the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”