Ugandan Journalists Attacked during Election Period

From the street: As Ugandans went to the polls on February 18 to vote for a presidential candidate of their choice, journalists were at hand to report the proceedings and outcomes. Some overzealous supporters and loyalists turned their fury onto the people’s eye and ears.
Journalists were attacked, intimidated and property destroyed.
Journalist Julius Odeke from the Red Pepper and the Razor Newspaper was shot at by security agents while covering the vote casting at Budadiri West constituency in Mbale district. Mr. Odeke was injured with a bullet when security operatives tried to confiscate his recordings of electoral violence in this area.
During the mayoral elections in Kampala, more violence and physical attack was done on the journalists.
The six journalists attacked included; Nixon Bbaale a camera man and Brian Nsimbe, a reporter, both from Channel 44 TV, Jane Anyango, a senior reporter with UBC TV, Nabazziwa Lydia a reporter from Bukedde TV, Nabukeera Florence a reporter with Bukedde newspaper, Namatumbwe Christine a reporter and News anchor at Metro FM whose radio recorder, mobile phone and hand bag were all stolen.
The police has promised to investigate the cases. The government is under obligation to remove attitudes and end actions that undermine independent journalism; freedom of expression and the free flow of information to the public.

Uganda Votes

The people of Uganda will line up to cast their vote on this 18th February 2011. The presidential and parliamentary posts are up for grabs. The National Resistance Movement, NRM, which has had the majority vote in parliament, will seek to dominate, while the opposition will try to turn the tables. But all the opinion polls conducted in this campaign period have shown the NRM, and its presidential candidate and incumbent, Yoweri Museveni Kaguta leading in the poll results by over 64%, of which the opinion polls had a margin of error of 2.5%. Whether this is a reflection of the voters remains to be seen.
The presidential candidates are:
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Kizza Besigye; Forum; Democratic Change (FDC)
Abed Bwanika; People’s Development Party (PDP)
Olive Betty Namisango Kamya; Uganda federal alliance (UFA)
Olara Ottunu; Uganda People’s Congress (UPC)
Nobert Mao; Democratic Party (DP)
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali; People’s Progressive Party (PPP)
Samuel Lubega; Independent

Sudan Secedes

Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly for separation from the north, with 98.83% of voters in favor of the split, according to results released on late Monday, February 07, 2011 by Ibrahim Khalil, Chairman Electoral Commission. Only 1.17%, equivalent to 44,888 votes, favoured unity of the two Sudans.
Sudanese president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir has said he respects the decision of the people of the new 54th state of Africa. This was contained in a Republican Decree read out by minister of presidency affairs Bakri Hassan Salih, according to official Sudan TV.
The White House has also promised to formally recognize South Sudan as a sovereign state in July.
As the journey to form a new state begins in 5 months time, few obstacles stand in the way, mainly the definition of the border, especially of the disputed oil rich Abyei region. Whether the resolution by the permanent court of arbitration in the Hague is enforced remains to be seen. Other concerns include citizenship. Resolving these issues will be a test on how the two countries move on the peace path.
The south Sudan capital, Juba, was in a celebratory mood as the results were released. Residents converged on a projector that had been set up to broadcast the announcement at the mausoleum of former leader John Garang.
Dr. John De Maboir Garang made history as pioneer of the southern rebellion and architect of peace, Dr. Salva Kiir is set to become an ionic figure as father of a newly independent south Sudan.
Cultural ties binding the two Sudans are too deeply rooted to be severed over night. How they maneuver this is a test of time that is more than the borderline of over 2,000 kilometres. Determination and ambition are the two ingredients flowing across.

Fact Page
South Sudan Coverage: 619,745 km2
Capital: Juba
Population: 7.5m – 9.7m
Currency: Sudanese pound
Official Languages: Arabic, English,
Time Zone: East Africa
Major Languages: Dinka, Nuer, Zande, Bari, Shilluk
Major Religions: Christianity, Islam, Animism
Some Exports: Oil, Cotton and Sesame
Life Expectancy at Birth: 42 Years
Government: President; Salva Kiir Mayardit
Vice-President; Riek Machar Teny

Turmoil in Egypt, Media under attack

From the Square: With Mubarak facing unprecedented mass protests in Egypt against his 30 year rule, he has turned on the messenger – the media. Qatar based Arabic channel, Al jazeera has had its bureau closed and accreditation for its correspondents in Egypt suspended. This is as a result of the exclusive coverage the network was giving to the protesters.
Already the internet and mobile phone services were already interrupted. Vodafone, a UK based and one of Egypt’s mobile phone service providers issued a statement, reading that it has been ordered to shut down some of its connections in the area, according to media reports.
But as Al jazeera News Development chief, Mustaph, told BBC Radio, this makes reporting from Egypt hard, but not impossible.
It’s a toothless bite to cut information from flowing from one region to the world. The media has too many tools in practice that no government or oppressor can suppress. Mustaph referred to citizen journalism as one of the ways the channel will continue to offer coverage from the troubled area. Ordinary people have been sending in videos, photographs and updates of on scene recordings.
Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher, the other suspended channel have also given alternative channel settings on Nilesat, Hortbird, Arabsat, to tune to and watch the channels.

To watch Al jazeera Arabic and Mubasher tune to;
On Nilesat: 10949 Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Hotbird: 12111 MHZ Vertical SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4
On Arabsat: 11585 MHZ Horizontal SR; 27.500 MSPS FEC: 3/4