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Errant Police Officers To Take Individual Responsibility.

13 June, 2023
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Police in the Elgon Region says that errant police officers will take individual responsibility for their actions.


This has been revealed by Moses Wabwire Musana the Elgon Region Legal and Human Rights Officer while addressing a section of journalists drawn from various media organizations from Bugisu Sub-region.

Wabwire was speaking at a one-day workshop on safety of journalists held at Hill top View Hotel in Mbale City. It was organized by Uganda Journalists’ Union and Uganda National Commission for UNESCO. The workshop objective aimed at ‘promotion of freedom of expression, access to information, safety of journalists and how to fight impunity for crimes committed against journalists.

According to Wabwire, they have notified all their officers that any officer found in cases of human rights violations will personally face the repercussions. Wabwire’s warning comes as a section of the public including journalists have had their rights violated either through beating or having their equipment destroyed. He says that police officers implicated in violation of the fundamental human rights through torture will be fined and their ranks reduced. He also says that in case of court awards against the police force on issues of human rights violations, the concerned officers will bear the costs.

Julius Odeke, a journalist, accuses the Police of brutalizing journalists in line of duty. According to Odeke, most of the officers implicated usually go scot-free. He called for a cordial working relationship between security agencies and journalists to help the public get timely and verified information.

John Rex Achilla the Mbale Resident City Commissioner called for responsible reporting and asked journalists to always verify information before reporting. He said there is a need for journalists to contribute to national development by having a spirit of patriotism.

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