Ugandan journalist’s home broken into, vital information stolen

By

Robert Ssewankambo

Unknown people broke into the house of Ugandan journalist and rights activist Mulindwa Mukasa in Lungujja Kituunzi, a Kampala suburb on January 12, and took his laptops, two video cameras, a mobile phone, three information back up external drives and money.

The intruders forced open Mulindwa’s back door while he was asleep. Mulindwa, the immediate former Board Chairman of the Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda, HRNJ, said he lost vital information and property.

“These were not ordinary thieves. It was a highly sophisticated intrusion into my house which I believe did not last long. They were interested in items where I store my information. They specifically went for information gadgets and ignored items that I would expect an ordinary thief to carry such as TV, radio and even a brand new (boxed) home theater system among other things,” Mulindwa told Journalists, adding that when he woke at around 1am local time he noticed that the door he locked when going to bed was open.

Mulindwa was last year acquitted by a magistrate court in Kampala on charges of ‘obstruction’ brought against him by the then Wandegeya District Police Commander Julius Ceaser Tusingwire. The charges were levied after he had dragged said police officer to High Court over inhuman and degrading treatment. The case is before Justice Lydia Mugambe in which Mulindwa is seeking court to declare Tusingwire unfit to hold any public office.

“I am paralyzed, all the information I have gathered for a very long time is lost, I do not know the motive of the attackers and what they intend to do with it” the shaken Mulindwa who also works for Associated Press told Journalists.

Mulindwa a known advocate of free expression and the press has on a number of occasions been arrested, detained and released without charge. In May 2013, he was arrested and detained at Kisugu Police station for several hours while protesting the closure of Daily Monitor and Red Pepper newspapers. Police accused him of inciting violence but was released without charge.

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]