Mockery! Journalists Rubbish Court Sentences Handed to Assaulters in Military

The Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) has described as a mockery the sentencing and jailing of soldiers attached to the Military Police (MP) who clobbered journalists on Wednesday.

This comes a day after the Military Police Disciplinary Committee (UDC), which is a lower Court Martial sentenced seven soldiers to punishments ranging from 60 to 90 days of military detention.

A number of journalists were assaulted by Military Police officers who had gathered to cover events unfolding as the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi and his team delivered a petition to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (UNHCHR) office in Kololo over rampant abductions.

Speaking to the press, the HRNJ executive director Robert Ssempala said the punishments handed to the suspects are not deterrent enough, calling for tougher penalties.

The journalists want the commanding officer whom they have identified as Lt.Col Namanya Napoleon Kyabihende.

The Chief of Defence Forces Gen David Muhoozi yesterday apologized, and promised to foot the medical bills of victims.