By VOM News Team
Police in Kisoro are investigating circumstances under which the manager of Gateway Buses assaulted a journalist attached to Voice of Muhabura radio and damaged his recording device.
The Gateway Manager who has been identified as Yusuf, yesterday attacked and assaulted Gerald Niyirinda, a radio Journalist and Youth District Councilor Morris Hakizimana.
Gateway bus, one of the popular buses of choice for long-distance travel, especially from Kisoro to Kampala has been accused of dumping passengers after promising to take them to their final destination.
Niyirinda, who sustained minor injuries to his back after being hit with a projectile says, the deception within Gateway begins right from the bus terminal in Kampala.
Yesterday’s incident saw Kisoro bound passengers being dumped by Gateway bus in Kabale district after they had been assured that the bus would reach Kisoro town.
Sources aboard the fateful bus claim that, out of anger and frustration, the passengers threatened to storm Kabale Police station to report the bus management that had abandoned them in the parked bus.
Hakizimana says this is not the first time for the management of Gateway bus plying Kampala- Kabale- Kisoro route to behave in such a manner.
“They have taken us for granted for so long. We could not long stand the disdain and contempt from the Gateway people, how can they continue to look down on us like this, Hakizimana said.
More 30 passengers aboard Gateway buses registration numbers, UBG 835 M and UBD 988 Z say they were dropped off in Kabale without any explanation and yet they had booked and paid for a one-way trip to Kisoro.
Plan to Protest develops.
Filled with anger and disappointment about Gateway Operations, the passengers agreed to protest at the offices upon reaching Kisoro town.
Hakizimana says he called Voice of Muhabura Chief Editor Julius Irankunda and explained the situation, hoping that a journalist would be available to capture the demonstration.
Gerald Niyirinda, a season Journalist and radio jockey in the Friday Dance Mix show, every Friday says he was deployed alongside Dickens Twinomujuni, an Intern from Metropolitan International University Kisoro Campus.
Niyirinda says, he thought it was going to be just another ordinary day, but little did he know, he would have to run from an interview to save his own life.
The irate passengers aboard two small taxi vehicles arrived at Gateway Offices along Kivengeri Street where they demanded to speak to the manager.
Ticket agent, commonly known as Gasururu (means alcohol) said he would take them to where the manager lives.
Yusuf, whose residence is in close quarters with the stores and washing area for the bus is said to have spotted Niyirinda interviewing a gentleman, sparking off his anger.
Audio recordings captured by Niyirinda before fleeing for his life reveal the manager screaming at the Journalist.
“You! Who gave you permission to interview people, followed by obscure sounds due to his Somali accent and Niyirinda pleaded with Yusuf, No boss…Boss…No…!
Niyirinda says it was only by the grace of God that he got out of there without sustaining serious injuries.
“The angry manager threw a huge stone at me that hit me in the back and ricocheted off the body of the parked bus; another stone hit my legs while I was trying to run away, Niyirinda explained.
At this point, Niyirinda’s yellow polo T shirt had been ripped and torn from the back by the manager who ordered his ‘boys’ that were washing the parked bus to pursue Niyirinda.
“Running through the town on a crowded Market Day with a torn shirt and people after me, would have attracted the wrong attention, possibly even a mob trying to lynch a suspected thief, but lucky I managed to get away, Niyirinda narrated.
The Journalist, about his wits and luck managed to evade capture, running to a fellow Journalist’s house in the area to get a jacket to cover up the torn shirt.
While all that was taking place, Councilor Morris Hakizimana, who had remained behind was being slapped left, right and center.
“It is humiliating and embarrassing to be treated in such a manner by someone whom we went to demand some form of apology and refund, Hakizimana said.
Hakizimana and Niyirinda have since reported a case with the Police.
Yusuf, similarly, reported to the Police claiming criminal trespass to his home, a claim that has been disputed by eyewitnesses.
The Executive Director for Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), Robert Ssempala has since condemned the violent actions by the Gateway bus manager Kisoro against the stringer.
Ssempala made the statement on twitter and pledged the necessary legal aid from the organization to ensure Justice prevails.
Attempts to get a comment from Gateway Bus senior Management has been futile.
Voice of Muhabura Manager Prince Trevor Mugenga said the unfortunate incident is a good opportunity to empower journalists to stand together and also sensitize the public that Journalists have a right to carry out their work in a safe environment.
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