By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Uganda Communications Commission is not about to give up on the journalists who were suspended the same Commission for allegedly breaching the minimum broadcasting standards a few weeks ago.
SpyUganda has learn that UCC lawyers led by Abdul Salam Waiswa will today (Tuesday) file their appeal against the High Court ruling at the Court of Appeal on Tweed Towers. In a ruling delivered last week, the High Court overturned UCC’s decision to suspend 39 journalists from 13 media organizations, saying the Commission didn’t not have the mandate to do so. It all started on April 30, when the UCC Executive Director, Godfrey Mutabazi ordered for suspension of the embattled journalists over alleged breach of minimum broadcasting standards during the coverage of the arrest of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi on April 29 in Busabaala.
However, last week High court Justice Lydia Mugambe, overturned UCC’s suspension of the journalists, saying it was “illegal” and contravened with the journalists’ rights of freedom of speech, expression, publication. The ruling came after the leadership of Uganda Journalists’ Association (UJA) petitioned High Court. Early this month, officials from UCC and National Association of Broadcaster (NAB) met and agreed that embattled journalists step aside for 30days as investigations commence. However, the UCC still stand by their decision of suspending the said journalist, reason why they have decided to appeal the high court ruling.
