The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has condemned the reported police brutality against journalist Moses Lemisa, who was allegedly tortured into a coma while covering a story at Kapapaali Mulago Police post on Thursday. .
According to Ronald Kabuye, the spokesperson for UJA, Lemisa, a journalist with Bukedde Paper under the Vision Group, was brutally arrested by police officers during an eviction operation in the area.
Despite identifying himself, Lemisa was allegedly pushed to the ground, sustaining injuries to his head and other parts of his body. The officers confiscated his work tools, including his camera, phone, and identification card, and allegedly extorted money from him before throwing him into a police cell.
The situation worsened when Lemisa lost consciousness in the cell, prompting other detainees to demand immediate medical attention for him. It was only then that he was taken to a nearby health facility for treatment. However, his health deteriorated further, and he reportedly fainted again while seeking additional medical attention in Mpererwe.
The UJA expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as not only illegal but also a gross violation of Lemisa’s individual rights and press freedom.
The association highlighted that this was the second case of a journalist being arrested within two weeks, following the arrest of Julius Tukacungurwa Mugagga of Umoja online Website on February 7, 2024.
In response to the incident, the UJA issued a list of demands, including an investigation into the actions of the two police officers involved, an apology to Lemisa, compensation for his damaged equipment, coverage of his medical expenses, and the return of his confiscated money.
They gave the Inspector General of Police (IGP) one week to address their demands.
Failure to address these demands would prompt the UJA to explore other avenues, including organizing protests and seeking legal redress to ensure justice for all journalists who have faced brutality.
