The Mukono District Police Commander (DPC), Benard Mugerwa, has pledged to strengthen relations between the police and the media, especially as the country enters a tense political season.
Mugerwa made the remarks after a friendly football match between police officers and journalists affiliated with the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) at Bishop East Primary School grounds in Mukono.
He urged journalists to prioritize their safety while covering events, advising them to wear press jackets for easy identification during protests and to position themselves where they feel most secure in chaotic situations.
The DPC noted that the match helped break barriers and improve interaction between the two groups. “Some of these journalists we had never met physically; we had only heard their names. This match has helped improve our relationship and understanding,” he said.
The initiative comes just two months after five journalists in Mukono were allegedly attacked and beaten by police officers during the NRM elections, leaving some injured and damaging their cameras and other equipment. Notably, the victims were wearing press jackets and had their identity cards at the time of the incident.
HRNJ Executive Director Robert Sempala said the friendly match was part of broader efforts to rebuild trust and strengthen cooperation between the media and the police.
He urged police officers to refrain from using unnecessary force against journalists, reminding them that reporters do not carry dangerous weapons. Sempala also commended journalists for continuing their work despite harassment. “We know the challenges you face, but we are working to improve the situation,” he said.
Buvuma District Assistant RDC Moses Bbuule, who is also a journalist, cautioned police officers against mistreating media practitioners, noting that they will one day have to answer to the communities they wrong once they leave the force.
Police Liaison Officer Shafic Kasujja encouraged journalists to report not only negative incidents involving the police but also positive developments, saying that balanced reporting would help strengthen mutual respect.
He added that the atrocities committed against journalists should not be blamed on the Uganda Police Force as an institution, but on individual officers whose actions tarnish its image.
The match ended with the journalists’ team lifting the trophy, and both parties agreed that continued dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect are essential for peaceful coexistence and effective information flow.