KAMPALA — Journalists who have been covering the National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine on the campaign trail including Daily Monitor journalist Derrick Wandera and BBS TV journalist Culton Scovia been arrested in Kalangala District.
Nakamya has since been released without any charges.
She told Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-UGANDA) that after a rigorous interrogation by the army, she was released.
On the other side, Wandera was detained despite clearly identifying himself to the security.
Other bloggers on Bobi Wine team were also arrested and detained.
It’s not clear why they were all detained.
This comes few days after security forces in Masaka shot at an online journalist Saif-llah Senior Ashraf Kasirye on head and is now hospitalised at Rubaga hospital. On the same day journalists Ali Mivule Mazike of NTV and Daniel Lutaaya of NBS TV were assaulted and sustained injuries, they were rushed to hospital and later discharged but still undergoing treatment.
Journalists covering opposition candidates have suffered the wrath of security forces in what is a clear security violation of journalists rights and abuse of press freedom. This has since resulted into a protest walk out of journalists on the army political commissar and spokesperson at the Uganda Media Center demanding an end to deliberate attacks on journalists in the line of duty.
Editors under their umbrella The Editor’ Guild of Uganda have since threatened to recall all journalists covering presidential candidates citing uncertainty over the safety of their lives while on duty.
HRNJ-Uganda calls on the security forces to protect journalists on duty, and also refrain from attacks on them.
