Ofwono Opondo Appears to Troll Battered Journalists

Arrogance to a law enforcement officer whose instructions you don't know isn't a good thing. Journalists neither have nor enjoy an automatic right of way - Ofwono Opondo

The director of Uganda Media Centre, Mr Ofwono Opondo, has taken to social media platform X to throw shades at journalists who were brutalised by security forces while covering the Kawempe North by-election vote on Thursday.

Next Media photojournalist Francis Isano sustained serious injuries on the leg and was hospitalised while his colleagues Hassan Wasswa, a videographer, senior reporter Hakim Wampamba and at least seven others were also assaulted.

At Nation Media Uganda, Daily Monitor photojournalist Abu Lubowa and his colleagues from NTV Raymond Tamale and Dennis Kabugo returned to the newsroom limping from an abduction ordeal.

But Opondo, a former journalist who now speaks for the government through the Uganda Media Centre, took time to crack jokes around the plight of Isano.

"My man Francis Isano, I am told you're in a small difficulty in the Kawempe area in this by-election, and in hiding. What's up? May I know your location for possible rescue, if necessary," he posted on X.

It could have been that Opondo was not fully aware of the situation Isano was in. The photographer was delivered at Kampala Hospital in distress after sustaining serious injuries to his right leg.

The ever grinning Isano was a sad bag clutching at his shin in tears.

What Opondo might not be excused of is that most of the distressful in Kawempe was being widely publicised on social media and the plight of the journalists was widely covered too.

As if to show that he was out to have fun at the expense of the journalists, Mr Opondo took swipe are the media fraternity, suggesting journalists arrogant.

"Arrogance to a law enforcement officer whose instructions you don't know isn't a good thing," he said in response to a video of NBS TV anchor Canary Mugume being confronted by military men.

"Journalists neither have nor enjoy an automatic right of way."

The targeted attacks on journalists has received widespread condemnation in the country and beyond, with pressure forcing the UPDF to issue a statement disowning the actions of their men in uniform.

The soldiers, armed with batons and metal rods, flogged were said to be targeting members of the Fourth Estate, specifically looking out for those with press tags.

Acting Defence and Military spokesperson, Colonel Chris Magezi, said in a statement that the army had instituted an investigation into the conduct of its own.

"There are reports coming out of Kawempe in the ongoing by-election that several journalists were today assaulted and their equipment confiscated by some members of the security forces who were on patrol in the area to maintain law and order during the electoral exercise," Magezi said.

"It is not yet clear what happened that led to the clash between journalists and members of the security forces. Whatever it was, the damage and outcome will lead to unnecessary tension between the security services and the fourth estate. This is uncalled for and should be avoided with better coordination in future."

It is the first time in nearly two weeks that the army has condemned the impunity of its security forces, having previously condoned similar actions against journalists covering the same Kawempe North by-election campaigns.