Gbenro Adesina
Prior and after the general elections in Uganda, on January 14, 2021, 76 year old President Yoweri Museveni, has been assaulting, beating, maiming, tourturing and killing Ugandans, perceived to be members of opposition, wailing for a change in the country.
Of recent is the assault of a journalist, Jeff Twesigye working for NTV.
According to a video clip, the NTV Uganda’s Jeff Twesigye was seen running as fast as he could, to escape assault from some soldiers, who pursued him with their official vehicles and when perceived that he could be shot, he stopped and started begging the soldiers to spear his life.
At the top of his voice, he was begging saying, “I am sorry. I am sorry. I am a journalist with NTV”.
According to a statement released by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly called Bobi Wine, 2021 Uganda Presidential Candidate under National Unity Platform (UNP), he claimed that an Ugandan Director of Operations, Military Police (previously SFC), Lt. Col. Namanya Napoleone Kyabihende, commanded the brutalisation of journalists.
According to him, rather than parading the erring military officers, who assaulted journalists, other soldiers were paraded.
His words, “Today, when the military paraded soldiers that they claim to have beaten journalists, I did not see Namanya. This should teach everyone that in Uganda today, some people commit crimes while others pay for the crimes”.
Wine, who lamented the incarceration of one Kajimu Umar for almost a month said, “For 29 days, Kajimu Umar who does stationery work for us has been under military detention. He tells of a horrifying ordeal- beaten, forced to roll on ground several times, electrocuted! Saw horrendous things there. He was eventually released yesterday”.
However, the international community has condemned the terrorism that President Museveni has unleashed on Uganda, specifically condemning assaults on journalists, who are carrying out their legitimate responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the authority of the United States of America (USA), Ambassador to Uganda, Deborah Ruth Malac said, “Journalists should not be attacked for doing their job. Whenever assaulted, swift, public, transparent investigations must follow to ensure justice is served and to restore public trust. Those who violate press freedom must be held to account”.
Also, Amnesty Eastern Africa said, “We condemn the brutality against journalists by Ugandan soldiers yesterday as they covered Bobe Wine’s visit to UN Human Rights UG to deliver a petition. The Ugandan authorities must investigate and bring to account those found responsible for the assaults”.
HRW said, “Since election campaigns began in November 2020, security forces have clamped down on opposition members and journalists, violently arresting scores of people, including the presidential candidates Patrick Amuriat of the Forum for Democratic Change and Robert Kyagulanyi, of the National Unity Platform. On November 18 and 19, security forces clamped down on protesters demanding the release of then detained Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, resulting in at least 54 deaths”.
HRW chronicled the crime of Museveni against humanity to include: the shutting down of internet service providers to block access to social media on January 12, 2021. On January 13, 2021, the government shutdown internet access in the country for five days, till date restricting access to social media sites including Twitter and YouTube, on January 16, Museveni was declared winner for his sixth term as a president in the most incredible election in the country, security forces turning away people attempting to visit Kyagulanyi, including the United States Ambassador to Uganda Natalie E. Brown. An opposition member of parliament, Francis Zaake, was ruthlessly beaten by soldiers when he attempted to visit Bobi Wine, among unthinkable reign of terror on the innocent people.
Among the victims of Museveni is 20 year old, Masudi Luzige, who was beaten to the point of death last November 18, 2021 and left when thought that he was dead.
According to Wine, “Segawa Ronald is 22 years old. He appeared in a video, encouraging Ugandans to vote for me. For that, he was trailed by security operatives. They abducted him. For two weeks he was missing. He was later dropped off at Mulago mortuary- those who picked him thought he was dead”.
He continued, “He was burnt, electrocuted and his fingernails plucked out. Puss has been oozing out of his nose and eyes. His entire body bears marks of extreme torture. He remains unconscious. That’s why we’re taking Gen. Museveni to the ICC. These crimes against humanity must be accounted for”.
“Here is 75 year old Regina Namukasa. On 6th January, her three sons were abducted by security operatives. Her search for them in prisons hasn’t yielded. She is one of the hundreds of parents and relatives whose people are missing”, Bobi Wine added.
Helpless Ugandans are appealing to the international community, including the African Union, to intervene and stop Museveni from his heinous acts before he killed all of them.
"Please, please…NTV Please."
NTV Uganda's Jeff Twesigye is surrounded and beaten by officers from the Military police. The situation forces him to apologise for doing his job. Jeff was left behind by the NTV vehicle while it rushed other journalists to hospital. #NTVNews pic.twitter.com/xbAd9UnRVa
— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda) February 17, 2021
Here is 75 year old Regina Namukasa. On 6th January, her three sons were abducted by security operatives. Her search for them in prisons hasn't yielded. She is one of the hundreds of parents and relatives whose people are missing.
Credit: @ntvuganda #WeAreRemovingADictator pic.twitter.com/eSazb4ZDvo— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) February 8, 2021
