Uganda police officer arrested for 'beating journalists'
Local television journalists Andrew Lwanga, Joseph Ssettimba were badly beaten and taken to hospital
KAMPALA (AFP) - A senior Ugandan police officer was arrested on Tuesday accused of beating several journalists, sending two to hospital, as they covered a protest march against high unemployment, police said.
"We have arrested the officer for allegedly beating up journalists who were covering the story," police spokesman Patrick Onyango told AFP.
"In the police, we don t condone such acts, that is why an administrative action has been taken to detain him as investigations take place."
The arrested officer was named as Joram Mwesigye, a superintendent in charge of a police division in the capital Kampala.
"Once investigations are concluded, he may face charges of assault," Onyango added.
Local television journalists Andrew Lwanga and Joseph Ssettimba were badly beaten and taken to hospital, where they are reported to be in a stable condition, the Uganda Journalists Association said in a statement.
The statement condemned "police brutality on journalists", adding that 10 reporters in all were injured or had their equipment damaged during the march on Monday.
