The family of Eria Jengo, a journalist at Baba Television who covers security-related stories, has petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) for assistance in locating him. Jengo went missing on September 10 after leaving the Baba TV offices to buy food. According to eyewitnesses, he was accosted by two men and a woman in plain clothes and bundled into a Toyota Noah. The vehicle sped towards Kisaasi Road, with another vehicle, a Toyota Premio, reportedly accompanying them.
The disappearance was reported at Old Kira Road Police Station on September 12. Despite the report, police have not established or communicated to the family or his workplace who took Jengo or where he is being held. The family, along with the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and the television station, lodged a petition at the UHRC head offices in Naguru. Teddy Catherine, Jengo's partner and an employee at the same station, expressed distress, saying everyone keeps calling her for information, yet she has none.
Catherine narrated that on the day of his disappearance, Jengo left home early, saying he had a busy schedule, and did not call her the entire day, which was unusual. They usually leave the workplace together, but when she checked the newsroom in the evening, she was told that Jengo stepped outside in the morning without communicating where he was going and left his phones behind. Catherine expressed frustration with police, saying they have not helped them despite their request to check security cameras along the road to identify the said vehicles and track the communications people he was speaking to before his abduction.
Catherine also expressed concern for her own safety, fearing that the people who abducted Jengo could come after her as well. Eria's mother, Catherine Nalubanjwa, said she was hospitalized in Nakaseke after receiving news of her son's disappearance and had to come to Kampala to search for him. She appealed to the government to bring back her son, wherever he is, and requested security and the human rights commission to look for him and bring him back, whether alive or dead.
Saka Coperiano, Jengo's uncle, said they have been in frustration, moving from office to office seeking help since the incident occurred. He appealed to security to produce Jengo alive or dead so he can have a decent burial if dead. Docus Musimenta, the Principal Human Rights Officer at UHRC, received the petition and said the commission will analyze it and carry out investigations before responding to the petitioners.
Jengo's disappearance comes amid growing concern over cases in which people are reportedly picked up by unidentified operatives and later produced in courts on various charges, while others remain untraced for extended periods. The UHRC will investigate the matter, adding to the growing list of cases of enforced disappearances in Uganda. The commission's involvement is expected to bring more attention to Jengo's case and possibly lead to his safe return.
By press time, police had not yet publicly provided details on the progress of investigations into Eria's disappearance. The family and colleagues of Jengo continue to seek answers, and the petition to UHRC is a step towards finding him. The case has raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the need for authorities to take swift action in such cases.
Key points
- The family of missing Baba TV journalist Eria Jengo petitions UHRC for support in finding him.
- Jengo's disappearance raises concerns over enforced disappearances in Uganda.
- UHRC to investigate Jengo's disappearance and possible involvement of unidentified operatives.
