Ug Decides2021: Police Brutality Against Journalists Hinders Free and Fair Reporting -UPPA
The Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) strongly condemned the police brutality against journalists who cover National Unity Platform presidential candidate, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert’s campaigns.
On many occasions, Police and other security agencies have been in spotlight, blocking press from exercising their work and many were brutalized while in line of duty.
The current incident happened yesterday when the Uganda police blocked Kyagulanyi while in Lira for over seven hours.
In the Process, journalists including, Moses Waisswa of Busoga one FM, Batte Ssesanga of BBS Terefayina, John Cliff Wamala of NTV and David Tamale of Bukede TV were beaten by police and some of them were hospitalized in critical condition.
Basing on such ugly acts from Police, the association for parliamentary journalists came out to condemn the acts and advised the security agencies to stop them because they hinder fair reporting about elections and kill the image of the nation to the outside world.
“There have been many other nasty incidents in the past when journalists and other citizens have been mercilessly brutalized and even killed by the very people (police) who are supposed to protect them. The brutality of security organs characterized by assaults, firing of bullets, teargas, and other deadly explosives, is also scaring away tourists and investors from coming to Uganda.” Statement signed by UPPA president, Moses Mulondo read in parts.
Full statement, as released on Saturday 12/12/2020.
STOP POLICE BRUTALITY AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND OTHER CITIZENS
Police officers who had yesterday blocked presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi at Ngeta in Lira for more than 7 hours assaulted journalists and left many with injuries.
The journalists include, Moses Waisswa of Busoga one FM, Batte Ssesanga of BBS Terefayina, John Cliff Wamala of NTV and David Tamale of Bukede TV. Some of the journalists were hospitalized in critical condition.
On November 12, 2020, a group of stick-wielding men who some people suspect to have been state agents, assaulted NBS journalists who had been covering Kyagulanyi, vandalized their car and stole their gadgets including cameras and laptops.
On November 18, 2020 Ghetto TV journalist Ashiraf Kasirye was left unconscious after being pepper sprayed and assaulted by police officers during Kyagulanyi’s arrest in Luuka.
On December 6, 2020, Daily Monitor’s journalist David Lubowa was injured after a teargas canister was thrown at him by police a police officer while police was attempting to arrest
some of the members of Kyagulanyi’s campaign team in Jinja.
There have been many other nasty incidents in the past when journalists and other citizens have been mercilessly brutalized and even killed by the very people (police) who are supposed to protect them. The brutality of security organs characterized by assaults, firing of bullets, teargas, and other deadly explosives, is also scaring away tourists and investors from coming to Uganda.
Press Freedom is very fundamental if the media is to promote free and fair elections (democracy) and good governance where journalists execute their work without interference from the state agencies or any other actors.
In the various reports of Uganda Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Network for Journalists and other human rights bodies, state agencies like Uganda police, the army, RDCs, and UCC have been pointed out as the leading violators of press freedom.
Christopher Dodd a former American Senator and Lawyer once said “When the public’s
right to know is threatened, and when the rights of free speech and free press are at risk,
all of the other liberties we hold dear are endangered”
Despite calls from the Electoral Commission, religious leaders, political players, civil society activists, and development partners for police to stop acts of interfering with the campaign activities of opposition presidential candidates, the police acts which have left many Ugandans dead, many injured and others jailed, have continued.
We call upon President Yoweri Museveni and the leaders of security organs to stop the violence orchestrated by security organs which is not only threatening the lives of Ugandans whose future they are supposed to secure but also severally damaging Uganda’s International Image.