Magistrate Court to punish the convicted for assaulting a female journalist in Uganda
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) in a letter to Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of Uganda welcomed the judgment of Magistrate’ Court that convicted Eddie Ssansa Luwaga for assaulting a Daily Monitor journalist, Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya and maliciously damaging her work tools.
PPF Secretary General Owais Aslam Ali in his letter urged the government of Uganda to ensure protection of media practitioners in Uganda.
According to Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), on November 11, Grade I Magistrate, Aisha Nabukeera delivered the judgment. Nabukeera sentenced Ssansa to a suspended custodial sentence of twelve months, with a UGX 500,000 (USD 150) fine and UGX 2,000,000 (USD600) compensation to Shamim arising from the two counts.
Prosecution led by Maureen Tusiime adduced evidence that on 28th October 2015, at the Masaka Regional Police headquarters, at Baroda Building at Masaka, Ssansa slapped Shamim, smashed her Samsung cell phone, and fondled her breasts accusing her of provoking him during an interview.
Speaking after receiving the judgment, Shamim told that she was happy that justice had been delivered to her. “This should serve as a lesson to all those that have continued to take the law in their hands. I am happy with the judgment”
