Joint organizations advocating for journalists’ rights have announced a boycott of all security agency-related activities. This is in response to the violence against journalists by security agencies during the Kawempe North By-election.
During Kawempe by-election yesterday , Several Journalists were
attacked by security personnel, mainly from Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF
and Police. Those who were assaulted and injured include Abubaker
Lubowa, Denis Kagubo, Raymond Tamale, and Hasifa Nanvuma from the Nation Media
Group (Daily Monitor, NTV, and Spark TV), as well as Hakiima Wampamba and
Francis Isano from Next Media. The UPDF soldiers also damaged or confiscated
many of their gadgets.
Various journalist bodies that
advocate for the press freedom, including the Uganda Journalists Association
(UJA), Uganda Parliament Press Association (UPPA), Uganda Sports Press
Association (USPA), and Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda (HRNJ),
held a joint press briefing in Kampala, and announced a collective decision to
boycott coverage of all security agency-related activities as a form of
protest.
Robert Ssempala, Executive Director
of the Human Rights Network for Journalists in Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), stated
that while the decision to boycott coverage of security agency-related
activities is painful, it will serve as a crucial lesson for security agencies
to prioritize journalists’ safety.
“Moving forward, we demand that the
safety and rights of journalists be respected. Unfortunately, the continued
violation of these rights has reached a tipping point. Effective immediately,
we will no longer cover activities of security organs, including the Police and
UPDF, until we engage with their leadership to ensure the safety of
journalists.”Ssempala.
According to Ssempala, other
associations, including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the
Uganda Editors Guild, have also endorsed the decision to boycott coverage of
security agency-related activities in protest of the treatment of journalists.
Emmanuel Kirunda, Secretary General
of the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), emphasized that the boycott is a
deliberate measure aimed at teaching a lesson to those responsible for
perpetuating impunity against journalists.
Moses Al Sayed Lubega, President of
the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), underscored that the decision to
announce a boycott was a unified one, made collectively by the various
journalism associations.
He warned media houses and individual
journalists who might consider defying the boycott, cautioning that they would
face isolation if they do so. “We can no longer guarantee the safety of
our colleagues in the field. We believe it is in the best interest of media
houses and individual journalists to ensure safety. We believe this environment
will no longer allow journalists to partake in their trade.” Lubega said.
Meanwhile, the European Union
has condemned the violent actions that characterized the by-election for Member
of Parliament for Kawempe North constituency on fortnight .
The violence included attacks by
members of security forces on journalists who were covering the polls.
Several members of the media were
beaten up and are hospitalized, while others were detained with no proper
explanations as to their assumed offences, and equipment was confiscated and
destroyed.
The EU Delegation in Uganda said in a
short statement that the EU was concerned about the use of excessive force
against journalists covering the Kawempe by-election and called for the
observance of the role of the media in democracy.
Earlier, the Acting Defense Public
Information Officer, Col. Chris Magezi, issued a statement saying that the
Uganda People’s Defense Force was concerned about “alleged beating and
harassment of journalists” by members of the security forces.
Magezi noted that it was not yet
clear what caused the “clashes between the security forces and journalists.”
Magezi said the UPDF had henceforth instituted investigations into the
incidents that led to the unfortunate development.
“The result of the investigations
will guide the measures to be undertaken, including disciplinary processes
where appropriate,” he said.
While he commended most citizens for
being law-abiding, he noted that there were “a few among them who seek to
cause trouble, engage in aggressive behavior against the security forces, and
break the law.”
Col. Magezi vowed that the
lawbreakers would be dealt with firmly according to the laws of the land.
