Ugandan Parliamentary contestant assaults journalist

November 3, 2015 OPINION/NEWS

By

Robert Ssewankambo

Eddie Ssnasa, a contestant for the Ugandan ruling party National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary seat last week assaulted a Daily Monitor-Masaka based correspondent, Shamim Jjingo Nakawooya for asking him what he termed an “embarrassing question.”

Ssansa destroyed a cell phone which the journalist was using to record her interview at the Masaka regional police headquarters.

Jjingo told the press that Ssansa slapped her twice and fondled her breasts, even after she had been rescued from him by other journalists. “When I asked him about having huge personal debts, he lost his temper; he started abusing me, slapped me on the cheek, in the chest and destroyed my smartphone which I was using to record the proceedings of the interview when he hit it on the ground” Jjingo stated.

She further informed the press that Ssansa threatened to “Run over me with his car if he ever met me on the way.”

Ssansa is vying for the NRM party flag for the Bukoto West seat with the incumbent Member of Parliament Isaac Ssejjoba and Joseph Muyomba Kasozi. Sources describe him as a violent person who previously confronted journalists when he was the Masaka district Secretary for Finance.

Ssansa also threatened to destroy a video camera for the NBS television journalist, Farish Magembe who was recording the incident, prompting him to stop forthwith.

Jjingo told journalists that she was experiencing severe chest pains and had a swollen face. She reported a case of assault and malicious damage to property at the Masaka regional police headquarters.

A couple of journalists have been assaulted, detained, shot at and their gadgets confiscated during the ongoing ruling party elections for flag bearers ahead of the country’s general elections planned for February next year.

 

 

 

 

 

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Robert Ssewankambo

Robert Ssewankambo is a Ugandan writer. Working currently on a freelance basis, he is a regular contributor to major newspapers in Uganda and electronic online magazines and media sources in Africa, such as the Bukedde newspaper, Hindered radio, Red Pepper, Eddobozzi newspaper and African Interest online.

For media enquiries, contact Robert at the following email address: [email protected]

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