Iron Bar Men Hit Gulu journalist

Steven Balmoi, a talk show host and presenter at Mega FM, a Gulu based radio station is nursing injuries after being hit by unknown people widely perceived to be ‘‘iron bar hit men.’’

Mr Balmoi was attacked on Friday night at around 11:10 pm from his home in Pece division behind Pece War Memorial Stadium after returning from work.

Balmoi is host of the popular ”Te-Yat” show on Saturdays and also reads the  bulletin on Mega FM, a leading radio station in northern Uganda.

His wife Mrs Immaculate Katwesigye said Balmoi had just returned from work and parked his car  in the compounf when was hit at the back of his head. Twesigye said her husband fell down and screamed for help causing the attackers to flee with Balmoi’s mobile phone.

Balmoi sustained a cut at the back of his head and was rushed to a clinic for emergency medical treatment. His  injury is not life threatening.  On Saturday the journalist was seen driving around town with a bandage on his head.

James Asubu, the officer in charge of crime at Gulu Central Police said the case had been reported to the police. But no suspects have yet been arrested.

Balmoi is the third journalist to be attacked by unknown thugs in Gulu town this year.  Other journalists who have been attacked by thugs include Emar Okanokodi of the Northern Uganda Media Club(NUMEC) and Pat Larubi, a photo journalist.

There has been an increase attacks on unsuspecting residents of Gulu town by iron bar hit men. Last month a student of Gulu Army Secondary school was attacked by suspected iron bar hit men at Bomah Grounds, just meters away from the office of the Gulu district resident commissioner. The boy later died from injuries suffered at Gulu regional referral hospital.