Government told to produce New Vision Journalist Etukuri dead or alive

Lawyers representing the New Vision have sued government and the Internal Security Organisation Director General over the mysterious disappearance of journalist Charles Etukuri early this week.

On Monday, men dressed in army fatigue kidnapped Etukuri, an investigative journalist with the government newspaper before being detained at an unknown place.

Through the group’s lawyer, Tony Kirabira, the New Vision says Etukuri was illegally arrested by government or its agents and persons acting under its authority.

“He is still being held incommunicado and is under illegal detention by government, its agents or persons acting under it. The continued detention is infringing on his right to personal liberty among other rights under the 1995 Constitution,” says the New Vision through their affidavit sworn by Jimmy Adriko, a workmate with Etukuri.

The newspaper demands that court issues a habeas corpus ordering government or its servants to produce Etukuri dead or alive.

A habeas corpus order is one which tasks government or any other body to produce someone who is missing, dead or alive to court.

Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe from the civil division of the High Court in Kampala has set Monday, February 19 to hear the application by the New Vision.

On Monday afternoon, unknown people abducted Etukuri from outside the New Vision offices in Industrial area and according to workmates, men dressed in military fatigue and brandishing guns grabbed him and forced him into their waiting vehicle.

It was alleged that he could have been picked due to a series of stories he has written as part of the government daily’s investigative team.

Government was on Thursday put on the spot to explain Etukuri’s disappearance by parliament after Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo raised a matter of urgent national importance to find his whereabouts.

However in response, the Internal Affairs Minister and his counterpart for defence said none of their respective security agencies had Etukuri in their custody.

http://nilepost.co.ug/2018/02/15/we-dont-know-where-abducted-new-vision-journalist-is-government/

“As you know, even criminals are capable of putting on clothes similar to military uniform and this has happened before,”Defence Minister Adolf Mwesige told legislators.

Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) voiced its concern over the manner in which their fellow journalist was abducted and held incommunicado by suspected security agencies.

“It has a fear effect it seeks to create among the media fraternity. No one needed to arrest him as if a hardcore criminal,” HRNJ coordinator Robert Ssempala told the Nile Post.

“It injustice done to him and his media house. There is no amount of explanation can endorse use of force. He has a place of work and should have been summoned through his employers.”

The body in charge of fighting for human rights for members of the press says they would chase justice for the New Vision investigative journalist.