A radio Journalist Okello Augustine alias “Rooks” who works with Rhino FM in Lira, has been kidnapped. He has been kept incommunicado since Wednesday 13th July 2011.

According to Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) Regional Coordinator (Northern) Ogemawany Francis, Okello’s workmate Ms Acio sarah said Okello Augustine was last seen with the Lira District Internal Security Officer (DISO) on an unofficial appointment at Grand Pacific hotel in Lira. Since that day Okello has never returned.

Ogemawany said that When Okello’s wife reported the matter to Lira Central Police Station (CPS) nothing was done to help in the matter of tracing her husband. And added that  one of Okello’s workmates said he identified a Motorcycle which Okello was ridding parked at Lira Police yard . Police sources said the motorcycle was taken there by the DISO, reportedly for “safe” custody. When contacted the DISO denied having any knowledge of the whereabouts of the Journalist and even failed to explain circumstances under which he got into possession with the journalist’s motorcycle.

We condemn in the strongest terms this heinous act of kidnapping a Journalist and confining him in detention without trial, moreover incommunicado. “If the Journalist has any case to answer then he should be produced in courts of law or if he is dead then we should be told.” said UJU President Ms Lucy Anyango Ekadu.

UJU calls on the Police, the Judiciary, human rights bodies, Journalists and Civil Society organisations, both local and international, to help in putting pressure on the Ugandan authorities to search for the missing Journalist.

The Lira District Internal Security Office who was the last person seen with the Journalist, should help Police in its investigations. “This is gross violation of Human Rights and perpetrators of this heinous act should be prosecuted in courts of Law. Let us work towards “fighting” impunity in Uganda. Justice delayed is Justice denied,” Ekadu said.