KAMPALA – Several journalists sustained serious injuries on Wednesday after being clobbered by Military Police as they covered Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, as he delivered his petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) offices in Kololo, Kampala.
Some of the journalists also had their equipment confiscated as the army and police sought to block people who had accompanied Bobi Wine.
Some of the journalists could be seen bleeding profusely after the beating. The most affected were NTV’s Geoffrey Twesigye, Irene Abalo of Daily Monitor, Shamim Nabakooza of Record TV, John Cliff Wamala of NTV and Timothy Murungi of New Vision. Others are Rashida Nakaayi of Galaxy FM, Josephine Namakumbi of NBS, Henry Sekanjako of New Vision, Joseph Sabiti of NBS and Thomas Kitimbo of NBS TV.
Abalo told this website that her leg was badly injured during the beating as the soldiers chased after her.
The soldiers had deployed heavily on the roads leading to Kololo and did not allow anyone other than Bobi and two other NUP officials to visit UNHRC offices.
Bobi Wine had been joined by relatives of several missing persons, who have been abducted by security operatives, to petition UNHRC.
Journalists are increasingly facing the wrath of security forces. In the run-up to the January 14, 2021 presidential poll, several journalists on the campaign trails of Bobi Wine and FDC’s Patrick Amuriat were targeted by security leaving several injured.
Since December 11 last year, security officers have assaulted more than 20 journalists covering opposition events.
