Journalists shy away from suing the army - HRN

"We have had disappointments with victim journalists who are timid but we are moving with only one case in Masaka where the lawyers are finalising with paper work," Ssebaggala said in an interview on Tuesday, 10 May 2011. He said more details of the single case would be shared at a later date.

The journalists who were allegedly tortured during the protests include; Francis Mukasa, a camera man reporting Wavah Broadcasting Station (WBS) TV; Ronald Muyinda, a Radio One journalist; Stuart Iga of the Red Pepper newspaper; Yunusu Ntale, a journalist with Central Broadcasting Service (CBS FM), Ali Mabule and Dismus Buregyeya both with the New Vision; Isa Aliga a correspondent of NTV in Masaka; Norman Kabugu, a journalist with a daily tabloid Kamunye, and four others.

Under attack while covering demonstrations

The journalists came under attack from the army in various parts of the country as they covered outcomes of the demonstrations that turned violent on 18 April 2011.

Following their complaints, Robert Ssempala, the HRNJ-Uganda board chairman announced that the organisation would sue the army over the violation of journalists' rights. "We are dragging individual commanders to court for these violations, amongst them are Col. David Muhoozi the commandant of Armored Brigade in Masaka and the military police commandant among others," he said in a press statement in April.

Ssebaggala said HRNJ-Uganda is now investigating the use of money by the army to compromise the journalists to deter them from considering legal action against its officers. He said the investigations would specifically target the affected press in Masaka.