On 31, December, 2020, Uganda Police released a statement warning all journalists intending and covering campaign meetings and the all electoral processes to have media accreditation from Media Council.
“We wish to notify the public that with effect from the 31.12.2020, the police and sister security agencies shall recognise only journalists and media practitioners who are accredited by the Media Council, during the coverage of political campaigns and other electoral events,”said Maj Gen Paul Lokech, the
deputy Inspector General of Police, in a statement.
However, Journalists questioned the timing at which Police and media council came out to regulate them and limiting them from covering electoral events. And they looked at it as a move intended to curtail the freedom of the press.
News editors, under their association of Editors’ guild and Centre for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) ran to court seeking to restrain Media Council and government directives to accredit journalists in this period.
Editors saying that this is illegal, Irrational and irregular directive to journalists and they are seeking a temporary injunction on the directive until the determination of the main application.
According to the editors, there is need to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression, including for citizen journalists.
Daniel Kalinaki, the interim chairman of the Uganda Editors Guild and Managing Editor of the East African, swore an affidavit in support.