UPPA demands action against security officers who assaulted journalists

The Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) has called on the government to take immediate action against security officers and unidentified attackers who assaulted journalists covering the Kawempe by-election.

In a statement, UPPA President Samuel Ibanda Mugabi condemned the brutality, naming victims such as Isano Francis (NBS TV), Raymond Tamale (NTV), Dennis Kabugo, and Abubaker Lubowa (Daily Monitor), among others.

Eyewitnesses reported that security forces deliberately targeted journalists at various polling stations, confiscating equipment and restricting movement.

“The attacks on journalists signal a deliberate attempt to suppress media coverage of the Kawempe by-election,” the statement read.

Mugabi denounced the assaults as a violation of press freedom, stressing that journalists must be allowed to work without fear of intimidation or violence.

“Targeting journalists for simply doing their job is unacceptable,” he stated.

UPPA reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom and urged authorities to ensure journalists’ safety.

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and media watchdogs have also condemned the attacks, demanding accountability and stronger protections for the press.

While the government has yet to respond, media rights groups warn that continued repression could erode public trust in the electoral process.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has pledged to investigate the growing allegations of media suppression, as concerns over journalists’ safety and electoral integrity continue to mount.