The High Court in Kampala has awarded Former WBS TV journalist, Andrew Lwanga, UGX268 million as compensation for the injuries he sustained when he was assaulted by the former Old Kampala District Police Commander (DPC) Joram Mwesigye.
The compensation covers 18M Shillings as special damages and 250M Shillings as general damages to cover the cost of medical care and the food he received while on treatment after the attack.
Lwanga sustained several injuries on January 12, 2015 along Namirembe road in Kampala, when Old Kampala District Police Commander, Joram Mwesigye attacked him as he covered a demonstration by unemployed youth.
Upon examination, doctors told the court that Lwanga suffered permanent neurological damages that will likely impact on his future ability to work.
On 10th March 2017, The Chief Magistrates Court at Buganda Road found DPC Joram Mwesigye guilty of assaulting Lwanga and convicted him on charges of assault and occasioning actual bodily harm.
In her ruling, presiding magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu fined Mwesigye Shillings one million and ordered him to pay five million Shillings to the assaulted journalist in 30 days or face a one-year jail sentence.
Lwanga appealed against the sentence and described the process as a mockery of justice.
High court Judge Lydia Mugambe Ssali has granted Lwanga UGX268M in compensation which will also attract a 15 percent interest per year until full payment is made. She also ordered that the Inspector General of Police conduct an investigation on ASP Joram Mwesigye and punish him accordingly.
The judge says other police officers that Mwesigye worked with should be punished if investigations find them guilty too.