The Kingdom of Buganda has distanced itself from the alleged clobbering and mistreatment of journalists who were covering the 2018 Airtel Kabaka Birthday Run by the Kabaka’s security personnel.
Earlier, social media was awash with pictures of journalists being pushed and manhandled by the Buganda royal guards including UPDF soldiers, which ignited condemnation from journalists and members of the public.
In a statement to the media, the Kingdom’s Spokesperson and Information Minister, Noah Kiyimba has termed the actions as “regrettable” and pledged to conduct further investigations before holding the officers involved accountable.
“It is not proper for the rights of journalists to be violated and it is not in the interest of Buganda kingdom to frustrate their work and we highly condemn the action,” Mr Kiyimba said.
Owek. Kiyimba added that “the guards who have been involved acted in their personal capacities and don’t represent the Kingdom, Kabaka and the Katikkiro.”
In reaction to the pictures which showed journalists being manhandled, many journalists on social media had started mobilizing colleagues to shun the kingdom’s functions in case it does not reign on the accused security personnel.
Some journalists said that Sunday’s mistreatment was not isolated but rather a pattern of disrespect and resentment that the press are subjected to as they cover Buganda kingdom events.
“Being manhandled by Kabaka’s UPDF guards is the main reason I nolonger attend Mengo events,” Sadabb Kitatta who reports for The Observer posted on his facebook account.
However, Mr Kiyimba stressed that the Kingdom regrets the actions and promised to establish a probe to assess how guards behaved as well as to suggest better methods of their operations without interfering with the work of journalists.
Hundreds of people graced Sunday’s activity including top politicians and notable businessmen. The run is aimed at celebrating Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II 63rd birthday and help in the fight against sickle cell in the country.
