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Police officer suspended for pepper spraying journalists

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CPL OGWAL YEEKO OF BADGE NO 49563 DIRECTING A PEPPER SPRAY CAN AT JOURNALISTS WHO WERE COVERING THE DEMONSTRATION ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2023 IN MLAGO, KAMPALA (PHOTO/ISANO FRANCIS)

KAMPALA, UGANDA: Police has suspended Corporal Ogwal Yeeko, the officer who was filmed on Tuesday attacking journalists with pepper spray and teargas as they covered a news report in Wandegeya, a Kampala suburb.

The incident in which the ruthless officer brutally attacked journalists happened at around 9:30 am as the media personnel rushed to cover the arrest of pre-medical interns who attempted to march to Parliament over the delayed commencement of the medical internship.

During the scuffle, officer Ogwal turned around and directly pepper sprayed two journalists identified as Thomas Kitimbo, a video camera operator and Francis Isano, a photographer both attached to NBS Television, a subsidiary of Next Media Services Ltd.

Responding to the incident, the police spokesperson SCP Fred Enanga Wednesday condemned the unprofessional conduct of the culprit officer and said he has been arrested and handed over to the Professional Standards Unit of the forces to be handled further.

“The abuse directed at journalists and reporters for simply doing their job can never be justified. The officer who acted unprofessionally has been identified as CPL Ogwal Yeeko. Although the officer issued an apology to the journalists, he has still been suspended and handed over to the Professional Standards Unit (PSU), for investigations” Mr Enanga said in a statement.

Although the officer issued an apology to the journalists, Enanga said “The officer has still been suspended and handed over to the Professional Standards Unit, for investigations.”

CPL Ogwal directs a teargas pepper spray at journalists during the Tuesday fracas.

The police spokesman further advised the victimized journalists to record their statements with PSU so that charges of assault can be brought against the implicated officers.

“We have also reached out to the journalists, Next Media and expressed deep regrets over the conduct of our officers.”

Enanga bemoaned that Ogwal’s unprofessional conduct was totally uncalled for and advocated for more work to do in the protection of journalists and reporters especially those who report on violent scenes and crime-related stories.

“The action of our officers indicates that there is still work that we must do, to better protect journalists and reporters, so that they can play their part in keeping the public informed without fear or favour. We are going to ensure that they go about their work without being intimidated, attacked or threatened.”

Source:Daily Express

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