Journalists petition UHRC over security brutality during Kawempe poll

More than 20 journalists, who were attacked by security operatives during the Kawempe North by-election last week, have petitioned the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), seeking justice.

The journalists, representing various media outlets, including Nation Media Group-Uganda, suffered injuries and were detained during their coverage of the by-election.

 They include Abubaker Lubowa (Daily Monitor), Denis Kabugo and Raymond Tamale (NTV), Steven Kibwiika and Hasfah Nanvuma (Spark TV), Francis Isano and Thomas Kitimbo (NBS), Ibra Miracle (TOP TV), Moses Waiswa (Busoga One FM), and David Mwesigwa (Galaxy TV). Mr Lubowa stated that the journalists are united in their demand for accountability. “These people had no name tags, they were hooded and we couldn’t tell who is who but what we know is that when they are being deployed, the army leadership knows who has been deployed where, so we believe that the army knows them and they should be brought to book,” he said. “If they are punished, that will serve us justice as well because there was no reason as to why they would beat journalists to that extent. The manner in which we were beaten, you would think that they were beating terrorists,” he added.

The journalists are also seeking compensation for confiscated and damaged equipment, including cameras, live units, memory cards, camera chargers, and phones. Mr Kitimbo emphasised that this was not an isolated incident and expressed hope for justice. “We journalists and the media as a whole are friendly not only to security agencies but also to all government bodies. So we wonder why a person would come and brutalise a journalist who is on official duty, doing his work,” he said.

He urged for an end to brutality against journalists and called for harmonious relations between the media and security forces.

“The cameras, pens and books are just equipment we use to do our work to report what’s happening in the country, so don’t look at them as weapons of mass destruction. These are just gadgets we use to do our work. All we need is justice and a good working environment,” Mr Kitimbo added.

The attacks, which occurred between the nomination period on February 26 and the voting day on March 13, led to media houses withdrawing their coverage of the polls. Mr Alex Bukumunhe, the public affairs manager at UHRC, confirmed that investigations would commence immediately after receiving statements from the journalists. He explained that once sufficient evidence is gathered, the case would be forwarded to the UHRC tribunal. He highlighted the multiple human rights violations involved in obstructing journalists, including the right to property, freedom from torture, and the right to practice one’s profession.

“The first freedom, if you remove the camera from that journalist, you are violating their right to property. If you beat up that journalist and injure him/ her, you are violating their freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” Mr Bukumunhe said.

“If that journalist does not cover that news item, you are violating their freedom to practice their profession because the constitution gives us a right to belong to a certain profession,” he added.