Vision Group journalist, Lemisa Moses, was reportedly roughed up by police officers who were carrying an eviction in Mulago.
The journalist had gone to Kapapaali Police Post in Mulago to follow up on the story of the eviction. But before he could say anything, he was beaten up and his equipment including his camera were confiscated.
Police officers feared that he had recorded the eviction and cries of the people, which could put them in bad light.
“Even the money I had on me was taken and I was locked up. Later I was told to record a statement. I was accused of trespassing,” he said.
Lemisa said he was only released after he collapsed in the cell and officers feared that he could die.
“I suffer from asthma so when I fainted, they panicked and released me,” Lemisa told Bbeg Media.
He later sought treatment at a clinic. Lemisa told us today that he had been kicked and beaten with batons on the head.
“My head is still aching and I am at home. I did not go to work,” he said.
Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson of Kampala Metropolitan Police said he was not aware of the incident but that he would check and establish the details.
He advised Lemisa to report the case to police.
Several reports have shown that police is one of the leading violators of human rights in Uganda and journalists, in the course of their duty, have often faced the wrath of these law enforcement officers.
In 2021, the Inspector General of Police Okoth Ochola said security sometimes beats journalists “for their own good,” a statement that was roundly condemned. He never retracted it.
Lemisa is one of the most prolific reporters at Bukedde newspaper where he has worked for more than 10 years. He covers the crime beat in the Kampala Metropolitan Area.