Uganda: Police Summons Newspaper Chiefs Over November Shooting Story
Police in Uganda have summonsed the managers of a newspaper for allegedly publishing stories relating to the November 2020 protests, in which over 50 people were shot dead by security operatives.
Tony Glencross, and Tabu Butagira, the managing director and editorial chief of Daily Monitor respectively have been called to record statements, the Kampala-based paper said on its wire.
Fifty-four people were shot and killed as the army and police used bullets and teargas to quell the riots, which began after opposition leader Bobi Wine was arrested for alleged violation of social distancing rules.
The Daily Monitor, an independent daily has published a series of stories documenting the victims of the brutal attack, in which it reported that Ugandan security forces fired live ammunition indiscriminately on Kampala Road, killing and injuring ordinary citizens, most of whom were bystanders.
On Monday, the paper published a follow-up story on Monday after an investigation by BBC Africa Eye program revealed that police officers fired at people on pavements along Kampala road in a premeditated spree.
A detailed analysis of about 400 videos posted on social media between November 18-19 shows, among others, that operatives were riding on the back of a Police patrol car number 17, with registration number UP 5564 and drove around the city business district firing on sight.
“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is carrying out investigations into alleged incitement to violence to the public … you are directed to appear before the commissioner, Electoral and Political Crimes department at Kibuli CID headquarters on June 2 (today) at 10.00 hours for interview and statement recording,” the summons read.
In response, Daniel Kalinaki, the general manager-editorial said: “We, as usual, will cooperate with the police.
“However, I am sure most Ugandans want to know the armed men that shot and killed unarmed people last November,” he said. .