Human rights defenders have embarked on a campaign aimed at repealing the laws that establish the offence of criminal defamation.

Following court judgment sentencing a CBS radio journalist Roland Ssembuusi to a one year term on a case of criminal defamation, Human Rights Network for Journalists has resolved to take all possible avenues to expunge the unfriendly law to the journalism professional.

The National coordinator of the Human Rights Network for Journalists, Robert Ssempala says the organization will be engaging Ugandan parliament and also considers filing a law suit at the East African Court of Justice challenging the criminal defamation law that has serious implications on the media freedom.

Ssempala said the Human Rights Network for Journalists has also appealed against today judgment, saying it is unfair to sentence, Ssembusi to a one year imprisonment of payment of fine worth one million shillings yet he simply filed an accountability radio story.

According to Ssempala, Ssembusi only stated facts that the former Kalangala LC 5 Chairperson Daniel Kikola was allegedly being investigated over the disappearance of solar panels donated to the district by the African Development Bank.

Ssempala says the organizations lawyers have already filed for an appeal in the Masaka High court to the reverse the judgment by grade 1 magistrate Kenneth Gimugu in order to undo the unfortunate precedent set by court.

Meanwhile the network asked the police and the Inspectorate of Government to take interest and investigate who is responsible for the disappearance of the solar panels donated by development partners to assist the people of Kalangala district