Press Release

                                                                                Date: 04/12/2009

Somali exiled journalists in Uganda outlined jointly press release, expressing their own problems and misinformation news from National Union of Somali Journalists after (NUSOJ) had claimed it assists for the Somali journalists who are in exile in Uganda.

After Debating, and analyzing, the journalists underlined the transcript articles.

1. NUSOJ Secretary General, Omar Faruk Osman has edited illegally the voices of some Somali journalists in Kampala, in which they had spoken for their congratulation to the press freedom organizations and human rights defenders who draw their most excellent attention and support for the Somali journalists in Uganda. Mr. Faruk Osman must remove that clips on websites immediately.

   
   

   
   

2. The Secretary had posted data of the journalists on websites mentioning that the NUSOJ covers the basic needs for their lives for those journalists in Kampala that is a clear fake and again shameful for NUSOJ.

  

3. NUSOJ hasn’t paid the financial assistance which Media Supporters intended for the journalists in Uganda who fled from Mogadishu for insecurity, harassment assassinations, threats and other human rights abuse.

 

4. The secretary of NUSOJ has obtained funds on behave for Somali journalists. Unfortunately, no one else knows that money with him, such as the income source and the amount of money.   

 

5. We are calling to international press freedom organizations and Human rights protectors, as we are journalists who live as refugee in Kampala that NUSOJ is not responsible for us, and organizations must not take untruth report from NUSOJ.     

 

At last, we would enormously appreciate to inform, donors, UN Agencies, international press freedom organizations and Human rights groups to pay on attention and support Somali journalists who have bad circumstances and yet again live as refugee a countries where there is no job opportunities and again no durable salutation.

Our Names are written below.   

 

Uganda Journalists Union (UJU) was alarmed by
reports aimed at defaming, undermining, maligning, mudsling and destrying
credibilty of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Eastern Africa
Journalists Association (EAJA), National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ)
and UJU. We had started taking drastic measures that were going to have
adverse effect on all exiled Somali journalists in Uganda. Among the steps
that had started included investigating all Somali journalists now in Uganda
and keeping them under surveillance to ascertain whether they are what they
claim to be. We even wanted to find out if they hide under "journalism" to
accomplish their own selfish motives.
 
Uganda Journalists Union partner in all Somali matters is National Union of
Somali Journalists(NUSOJ), as linked up under the International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) and EAJA family. Anything outside the IFJ link, would
be of no interest to UJU and we would not be in position to defend or
protect any so called "Somali Journalist" even if it meant being deported by
Kampala authorities. UJU continues to enjoy cordial relationship and
partnership with NUSOJ and will not be derailed by detractors and enemies of
press freedom.
 
It must be noted here that all Somali Journalists who reside in exile in
Uganda must be prepared to operate under the same arrangement that brought
them to Uganda and which continues to safe guard their interests through the
NUSOJ - UJU partnership. UJU or NUSOJ shall not be held liable to anything
that befalls any Somali journalist or any other exiled national that is
defiant and is bent at sabotaging programs that assist exiled journalists
ihn Uganda.
We shall continue to assist exiled journalists in Uganda if they appreciate
our efforts to try make a safe "haven" for them.
Look forward to your cooperation.
regards
Stephen Ouma Bwire
General Secretary Uganda Journalists Union
Adviser Eastern African Journalists Association (EAJA)

………………………………………

 

Dear Sir/Madam
> >
> > With reference for our pervious press release issued on 04/12/2009.
> > We are secondly certifying and emphasizing our decisions and complaints in
> > which we have made in our earlier- statements after we had a general
> > meeting.
> >
> > Unfortunately, we are very sad the second misinformation that are made from
> > Somali exiled journalists in Kampala, who have been experienced human rights
> > abuses in Somalia deciding to live in Uganda as refugee in which we indebted
> > the Ugandan Government, UNHCR, east and horn Africa human rights defenders
> > and other international press freedom who aware of our situation today.
> >
> > We are very sorry the recent series massages we have received from Stephen
> > Ouma Bwire GENERAL SECRETARY UGANDA JOURNALISTS UNION (UJU) ADVISER EASTERN
> > AFRICA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (EAJA),
> >
> > This person whom we do not know him through since we have been in here and
> > again is not a Somali exiled journalists, not Ugandan authority, as he said
> > in his massages that the Somali exiled journalists will deported back to
> > Somali after investigation into those journalists according to his massages.
> >
> > Mr. Stephen argued that we are not Somali journalists ignoring our photos
> > and the statements we had issued.
> > Stephen also said in his massages that there is NUSOJ Vice President in
> > Kampala, who is that person? Who elected that person?
> >
> > As we are journalists who fled from Somalia we do not aware of that vice
> > president he stated and sure any press freedom organizations knows our
> > situations, since we did reach this country.
> >
> > We are certifying as we are senior Somali journalists no one cropped and
> > manipulated our photographs and signatures.
> >
> > We asked ourselves many times where does Stephen come from? And who is he?
> > Why did he get in the way our matters? What is his aim and about his threats
> > toward us?
> >
> > These threats are out of principles of the journalism and press freedom.
> >
> > Officially, we would like to inform an international press freedom
> > organizations and human rights organizations that we can’t be captives for
> > Secretary general of NUSOJ Omar Faruk and Stephen,
> >
> > We do confirm that we are not part of NUSOJ and Stephen Ouma Bwire's
> > organization, since we are senior Somali Exiled journalists. They are
> > trying to stand our head. But we are going to argue them to keep press
> > freedom.
> > Once more, everyone who wants to know our cohesion and unit could relate
> > below contacts.
> >
> > 1. Ahmed Omar Hashi “ Axmedtaajir” [email protected]
> > Tel:+256784051676
> >
> > 2. Bashir Diirie Naaleeye: [email protected] ,Tel:+256784131810
> >
> > 3. Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein “Jeekey”: [email protected]
> > Tel:+256784704352
> >
> > 4. Omar Nur Gutale: [email protected], Tel:+256777096711
> >
> > 5. Hassan Mohamud Ahmed “Xasan fanax”: [email protected] ,
> > [email protected] , Tel: +256754649349
> >
> > 6. Yahye Mohamed Addow: [email protected] ,Tel:+256775432200
> >
> > 7. Elmi Osman Farah “ Boodhari”: [email protected] ,
> > Tel:+256784131815
> >
> > 8. Ahmedsaadaq Yusuf Mohamed: [email protected] ,Tel:+256775631779
> >
> > 9. Mohamed Mohamud Odawaa: [email protected] ,Tel:+256702547217
> >
> > 10. Mohamed Ibrahim Rage: [email protected] ,Tel:+256785423399
> >
> > 11. Sahra Yusuf Mohamed: [email protected] ,Tel:+256784426648
> >
> > 12. Nimco Abdi Hassan: [email protected] ,Tel:256777573278
> >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

DEAR CUMAR,
> YOU ARE 100 PER CENT RIGHT YOU DO NOT QUALIFY TO JOIN A CREDIBLE
> JOURNALISTS' ORGANISATION LIKE UJU OR NUSOJ.
>
> FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE NOT A PROFESSIONAL JOURNALIST BUT ONE OF THE
> QUESTIONABLE CHARACTERS AT LARGE IN KAMPALA WHO ARE BEING
> INVESTIGATED. YOUR INTERESTS ARE IN " FINANCIAL RIGHTS DEFENDERS" SO
> RELAX THERE.
>
> I CAN SEE WHERE THESE ARGUMENTS, FORGERIES, CONCOCTIONS, DECEIT, FALSE
> PRETENCE, EMBEZZLEMENT, SWINDLING AND FABRICATION BY THE SO CALLED
> "EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" IS HEADED. LET POLICE
> AND OTHER SECURITY AGENCIES DO THEIR WORK. THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.
>
> I DID NOT START THIS EXCHANGE BUT WAS STARTED BY SOMALIS THEMSELVES
> WHO CRIED FOUL OF ONE ORGNISATION CALLED HORN AND ET OF AFRICA HUMAN
> RIGHTS DEFENDERS" THAT IS USING THEM TO REAP RESOURCES FROM THEIR
> FEEBLE AFFLICTIONS. INDEED I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO
> TESTIFY BEYOND THIS STAGE.
>
> IS THE "EAST AND HORN OF AFRICA HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" "A REGIONAL"
> ORGANIZATION AS IT CLAIMS TO BE OR IS JUST A SOMALI ORGANISATION THAT
> HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF CIVIL UNREST IN SOMALIA TO CON DISPLACED,
> DISGRUNTLED AND FLEEING SOMALI PEOPLE?. DOES IT SERVE THE REGION OR
> SELECTED AREAS OR INDIVIDUALS WHERE IT THINKS IT CAN REAP HEAVY
> DIVIDENDS FROM DUBIOUS UNDERTAKINGS?. HY IS IT INTERESTED MAINLY IN
> JOURNALISTS?. I
>
> THE ORGANISATION IS HEADED BY A SOMALI NATIONAL CALLED HASSAN SHIRE
> WHO HAS MADE A FORTUNE OUT OF A PREDICAMENT, SENSELESS KILLINGS,
> DISPLACEMENT AND CIVIL UNREST IN SOMALIA. THE MORE KILLINGS OCCURRING
> EVERYDAY AND MORE SOMALIS FEELING, THE MORE MONEY HE POCKETS FROM
> DONORS. DOES HE EVER WISH PEACE TO PREVAIL IN SOMALIA?.
>
> HE HAS DISCOVERED THAT HE CAN EARN MORE MONEY IF HE PRETENDED TO BE
> PROTECTING JOURNALISTS IN EAST AFRICA AND UGANDA IN PARTICULAR.
>
> BUT INVESTIGATIONS SO FAR HAVE UNEARTHED A SCAM WHERE HASSAN SHIRE AND
> HIS ORGANISATION ARE PRESENTING QUACK JOURNALISTS YET THEY ARE
> ACTUALLY NOT JOURNALISTS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN JOURNALISTS.
>
> HIS LIST INCLUDES TRADERS SOME OF WHOM OPERATE INTERNET CAFES IN
> KAMPALA, HAWKERS, "JACKS OF ALL TRADE" AND QUESTIONABLE CHARACTERS IN
> SOME KAMPALA SURBURBS OF KISENYI, KABALAGALA, NSAMBYA AND KATWE.
>
> WHAT IRKS US MOST IS HIS CRAFTY PRETENCE OF WRITING EMAILS AND COINING
> SOMALI NAMES PURPOTING TO BE SOMALI JOURNALISTS OPPOSED TO IFJ AND
> ITS AFFILIATES.
>
> THIS MAN IS A SOMALI HIMSELF WHO SHOULD BE IN THE FOREFRONT TREATING
> HIS COUNTRYMEN WITH DIGINITY AND IN A HUMAN WAY THAN FORCING THEM TO
> FOLLOW HIS VERSES, WHOLE HEARTEDLY.
>
> CONFESSIONS BY SOMALI JOURNALISTS INDICATE THAT HASSAN SHIRE
> TRAVERSES KISENYI SOMALI SURBURB IN KAMPALA LOOKING FOR
> SOMALIS.
>
> HE WILL CONVINCE ONE TO WORSHIP HIM AND HIS SO CALLED HUMAN RIGHTS
> DEFENDERS IN EXCHANGE FOR $20 BUT WILL FORCE ONE TO SIGN A FORM
> BEARING MORE MONEY THAN HE ACTUALLY PAYS OUT AS ASSISTANCE.
>
> WHY SHOULD "HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS" BEG FOR FUNDS FROM DONORS UNDER
> THE PRETEX OF HELPING EXILED SOMALIS BUT SWINDLE WHAT ONE WOULD CALL
> MEAGER RESOURCES DONATED THROUGH HANDOUTS AND GOODWILL OF SYMPATHIZERS
> OR GOOD SAMARITANS
>
> ARE THESE FELLOW "HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDES" OR FINANCIAL RIGHTS
> SWINDLERS?. WE SHALL NOT ALLOW THEM TO THREATEN INNOCENT AND PEACEFUL
> SOMALIS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THEIR DUBIOUS UNDERTAKINGS.
>
> TO THE CONTRARY, AND BY COPY OF THIS MESSAGE, WE ARE SENDING THIS
> INFORMATION TO RELEVANT AUTHORITIES AND SECURITY AGENCIES TO HANDLE.
>
> UGANDA JOURNALISTS UNION AND NATIONAL UNION OF SOMALI JOURNALISTS
> (NUSOJ) DO NOT LOOK FOR OR COERCE SOMALI JOURNALISTS IN KAMPALA BUT
> SOMALIS THEMSELVES KNOW THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TWO
> ORGANISATIONS TO THEIR PLIGHT.
>
> BY THIS MESSAGE I ADVISE SOMALI JOURNALISTS RESIST ANY THREATS FROM
> HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS AND IN PARTICULAR HASSAN SHIRE. JUST REPORT
> SUCH THREATS BY EMAILING ALL THE PEOPLE ON THIS MAILIING LIST YOU WILL
> BE ASSISTED. ALREADY THIS MATTER IS BEING INVESTIGATED AND HANDLED BY
> RELEVANT AUTHORITIES.
>
> SOMEONE ON THIS MAILING LIST ASKED WHO IS STEPHEN OUMA BWIRE?. THIS
> CONFIRMS THAT THE PERSON ASKING IS NOT A JOURNALIST BUT ONE OF THOSE
> QUACK JOURNALISTS BEING ASSEMBLED IN KAMPALA HOODWINK DONORS.
>
> STEPHEN OUMA BWIRE
> GENERAL SECRETARY
>
> UGANDA JOURNALISTS UNION
> ADVISER EASTERN AFRICA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

…………………………………………………………………..

Dear, Stephen ouma.

It is Unfortunate that you pointed us as we are not professional journalists, but as traders when we made shed light on that we are no more part of Nusoj. The main fundamental purpose in which we pulled out of Nusoj is after suffering a lot from its troubles and fabrications made against the Somali exiled journalists in Uganda, Kampala.

So, isn’t that a clear indicator that you will recognize every journalist who is part of Uganda journalists Union and exercises his free expression as a businessman?.    

Isn’t that too in opposition to press freedom?

Mr. Stephen, you mentioned in one of your written statements we received that anyone who opposes International federal journalists (IFJ) and Nusoj is an enemy.

It is first worth knowing that we are associates of IFJ and friends as well. Because IFJ did support the Somali journalists and shared difficulties and grievances as earlier done by other international press freedom organizations.

It is also worth remembering that secretary general of IFJ aidan white has put much effort for the unity and togetherness of the Somali journalists.

We have never been involved in criticizing IFJ. But it seems that you are now fabricating an atmosphere of hostility between us and IFJ.

We feel that (Name) National union of Somali journalists stands for unity among Somali journalists. But we believe discontent of its leadership and we have no desire to setup parallel organization.   

We are informing all press freedom advocates and human rights organizations that any problem which sustains Somali journalists, here in Uganda will be on the shoulders of Stephen and the secretary general of Nusoj, since Stephen in particular specified our whereabouts in Kampala. This is exactly or almost similar to threats, intimidations and killings we left behind or fled from home.

We again feel very much grateful for RSF,CPJ,IFJ, EHAHDP and the entire donors for helping us get out the heartbreaking situation in Somalia.

 Somali exiled journalists in Kampala      

Dahir Abdulle Alasow

Hinda Mohamud Hussein

ASOJ Head Research and ducomentation

Fardowsa Mohamed Abdulle