The Media Council of Uganda has threatened to shut down local tabloid, Red Pepper’s sister newspaper HELLO! For fanning ethnicity in the matter of Saturday evening shot at Game Store parking lot.
According to police, Kenneth Watmon Akena, was shot after he reportedly knocked the car of businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu a nephew to the executive director of Oxfam, Ms Winnie Byanyima.
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In a letter seen by TheUgandan, Media Council boss Paulo Ekochu addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of Pepper Publications Limited James Tusiime, the government body sounded the warning over the article captioned “MUNYANKORE TYCOON SHOOTS ACHOLI GUY DEAD TO IMPRESS BABE @ GAME MALL” published in Hello Newspaper of Monday 14th November 2016 Vol. 5 No. 018.
Mr Ekochu who is not for his aggressiveness said he was warning the Newspaper for the last time.
Ekochuu said the sectarianism and divisive reportage by the Newspaper was unacceptable and the manner of reporting is grossly irresponsible. He accused the Newspaper of advancing hate and tribalism in the country thus as the Media regulators he had a duty to protect the country.. He said if the Newspaper continued with its current style of reporting he will use the provision of the law and the owners will regret.
FULL STATEMENT
Ref: MC/PRT/16/005
November 14, 2016
The Chief Executive Officer,
Pepper Publications Limited
KAMPALA.Dear Sir / Madam,
RE: ARTICLE TITLED “MUNYANKORE TYCOON SHOOTS ACHOLI GUY DEAD TO IMPRESS BABE @ GAME MALL”
This is in reference to your above captioned article published in your Hello Newspaper of Monday 14th November 2016 Vol. 5 No. 018.
The article, in particular the headline is manifestly sectarian contrary to the provisions of Section 41 of the Penal Code Act Cap. 120, and blatantly misleading as to suggest that a crime has been committed on the basis of ethnicity. The manner of reporting is grossly irresponsible.
Pursuant to powers vested in the Council under Section 9 of the Press and Journalists Act Cap. 105 you are hereby directed to stop and desist from reporting the said subject crime, or any other, in the impugned manner and/or directing the reporting of the crime to an ethnic context that is likely to offend the provisions of Section 41 of the Penal Code Act abovementioned.
Should you opt to continue in the same manner of reporting further action shall be taken to against you accordingly.
You are also hereby put on notice the you have not registered the particulars of Hello Newspaper as required under Section 5 of the Press and Journalists Act, which is an offence under the law.
For: MEDIA COUNCIL OF UGANDA
Paulo Ekochu
CHAIRMANc.c. Hon. Frank Tumwebaze,
Minister for Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance
Kampala.c.c. Hon. Mr. Justice Mike Chibita
Director of Public Prosecutions
Kampala.c.c. The Chairperson,
Parliamentary Committee on Information, Communication and Technology
Kampala.c.c. The Commissioner Media Crimes
Uganda Police Force.
Kampala.
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Akena, a child protection specialist with ACODEV in Kasese District, was shot in the stomach at around 8pm on Saturday and later succumbed to the bullet wounds at Novik hospital.
Police spokesperson Andrew Felix Kaweesi on Sunday told journalists that: “Before he died, Akena said the two people (Kanyamunyu and Munwangari) who had rushed him to the hospital are the ones who shot him for scratching their car,” he said.
“ The deceased said he was reversing in the parking lot when he knocked their car. And that he was shot in the stomach when he got out of his car to apologise,” Mr Kaweesi added.
