"Don't shoot the messenger," urges Erias Lukwago as journalists celebrate World Press Freedom Day

As journalists around the world mark World Press Freedom Day,Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, has said that this day should help us reflect more about the important role journalists play in society.

He explained that this can be done by honouring the various ratifications especially the 1991 UNESCO Windhoek Declaration to promote an independent and pluralistic African Press.

World Press Freedom Day is an annual event during which professionals working in news and editorial departments of media organisations remind governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom.

"We are currently contending with a dire situation. After the shooting of Journalist Robert Kagolo recently, we can't predict the flashes and impulses of the future. We are scared stiff,"said Lukwago.

He stated that innocent Ugandans are being incarcerated in ungazetted detention centres, safe houses and various military installations.

"Uganda security agencies continue to clobber journalists in broad day light but also, severely beat them in the pretext of enforcing the Covid-19 regulations,"he said.

Lukwago said that this is a day to hail the fourth pillar of democracy by awarding them their constitutional degree of freedom.

He stated that the media should defended from all sorts of attacks and insults in line of duty

" Don't shoot the messenger,"he noted.

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