This statement was originally published on New Vision website on 29th/03/2016. By Pascal Kwesiga Out of the 143 cases of press freedom and rights violations, the police was responsible for 107, accounting for over 70% of the abuses. A new press freedom index for Uganda has painted a gloomy picture for the media freedoms, showing…
Uganda: State attacks on media must stop
This statement was originally published on observer.org on 7th/March/2016. The correlation between Uganda police and journalists in the country has slowly degenerated into a hate relationship. In a space of five days, over 30 journalists have been beaten, blocked from accessing news scenes, pepper-sprayed, arrested, detained and released without any charges preferred against them. Others…
Media practitioners, rights activists condemn police brutality on journalists
This Statement was originally published on Daily Monitor on 4th/March/2016 Kampala. Uganda is at political cross-roads due to raw power contestation between re-elected president Yoweri Museveni, who has been president for 30 years, and the Opposition led by Dr Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential election loser. Like in the past, Dr Besigye has rejected as…
After disputed Uganda election, journalists fear prolonged crackdown
This Statement was originally published on cpj.org on 29th/February/2016. Twenty nine-year-old photographer Abubaker Lubowa was excited when he was assigned to cover the campaign of opposition leader Kizza Besigye. He told CPJ he did not anticipate that the assignment would mean he would make the news almost as often as he covered it. On February…
“Will I get hurt?” Questions journalists covering Uganda’s elections are likely asking
This statement was originally published on ifex.org on 16 February 2016. Journalists ask questions. That’s their job. But their questions should never have to be about whether they can safely report on a matter in the public interest, or whether they will make it out of an election period alive. Donald Trump is arguably the most…
Riot police detain a supporter of Uganda's leading opposition party as police and military forces disperse their procession to a campaign ground in Kampala, Uganda. REUTERS/James Akena
Freedom of expression must be defended during Uganda’s elections, says IFEX
This statement was originally published on ifex.org on 16 February 2016. The IFEX network calls on the international community to pressure the incumbent government of Uganda to end its crackdown on freedom of expression and assembly during the election period and beyond. ATTN: Prince Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Federica…
Ugandan journalist Andrew Lwanga, who is still recovering more than one year after allegedly being battered by a police commander while covering a protest. Credit: Amy Fallon/IPS Amy Fallon
Press Crackdown Is Likely to Worsen
This statement is originally published on Inter Press Service KAMPALA, Uganda, Feb 5 2016 (IPS) – On October 2015, the day that Ugandan journalist Enoch Matovu, 25, was allegedly shot by the police for simply “doing my job”, the police had “run out of tear gas”, he claimed. “So they had to use live bullets,” this…