• Latest
Brutality Against Journalists Denies Public Access to Information – ACME

Gen Muhoozi Orders Arrest of Soldiers Who Brutally Beat Up Journalists

7 years ago
Museveni Mourns Kanyeihamba, Lauds His Role in Uganda’s Liberation and Justice

Museveni Mourns Kanyeihamba, Lauds His Role in Uganda’s Liberation and Justice

58 mins ago
Zimbabwe Crowned Kings of African Rugby, Book First World Cup Slot Since 1991

Zimbabwe Crowned Kings of African Rugby, Book First World Cup Slot Since 1991

6 hours ago
Did Peace Through Tourism Fail?

Did Peace Through Tourism Fail?

7 hours ago
Chepkwurui, Cherop Win Gold; Chekwemoi, Otim Secure Bronze at African U18/U20 Athletics

Chepkwurui, Cherop Win Gold; Chekwemoi, Otim Secure Bronze at African U18/U20 Athletics

7 hours ago
Afrigo at 50 Concert Preparations in Full Swing

Afrigo at 50 Concert Preparations in Full Swing

23 hours ago
ACCA, Deloitte Uganda Launch 9th CFO Awards

ACCA, Deloitte Uganda Launch 9th CFO Awards

1 day ago
SoftPower News
Sunday, July 20, 2025
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
SoftPower News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Gen Muhoozi Orders Arrest of Soldiers Who Brutally Beat Up Journalists

by Brian Asiimwe
August 21, 2018
Brutality Against Journalists Denies Public Access to Information – ACME

Three soldiers surround Reuters photographer, James Akena, who was beaten severally while he covered the protests in Kampala. (Photos by @Atulinda_Allan)

4
VIEWS

The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen David Muhoozi has ordered the arrest of soldiers of the UPDF who beat up journalists and confiscated their equipment during the protests against the detention of Bobi Wine in Kampala yesterday.

James Akena, a photographer working for the foreign news agency, Reuters, was severally beaten by soldiers, arrested and detained for several hours. His equipment was confiscated.

Related Stories

Museveni Mourns Kanyeihamba, Lauds His Role in Uganda’s Liberation and Justice

Zimbabwe Crowned Kings of African Rugby, Book First World Cup Slot Since 1991

Did Peace Through Tourism Fail?

During the same protests, two NTV journalists; Ronald Galiwango and Juma Kirya as well as The Observer’s photographer, Alfred Ochwo were also beaten and roughed up.

They were forced to delete footage from their cameras and phones of soldiers responding to or beating protesters.

This brutality prompted outrage from journalists both in an outside Uganda who have since taken to social media to condemn the continued targeting of the press in their course of duty, by security forces.

Related: Brutality Against Journalists Denies Public Access to Information – ACME

Other rights campaigners rallied behind the hashtag #JournalismIsNotaCrime advocating for press freedom in Uganda.

Now, the military has issued a statement revealing that the soldiers responsible for the assault that was occasioned on members of the press will be arrested.

“Attention has been brought to the leadership of the UPDF about the unprofessional conduct of soldiers who molested some journalists while deployed on a joint operation in the capital city on Monday 20th August, 2018,” the army spokesperson, Brig Richard Karemire said in a statement released Tuesday.

“UPDF wishes to express its displeasure over such behavior by those individuals and as a result, the CDF has ordered for their arrest and punishment,” Karemire added.

However, neither did the army disclose the number or identities of the errant officers nor what sort of punishment they stand to face.

Monday’s assault and arrest of journalists came a week after similar events in Arua district where security personnel assaulted and arrested about 4 journalists on the last day of electoral campaigns.

The army has apologized to the victims of Monday’s brutality and said that it is still committed to fostering a strong partnership with the media.

“While expressing apologies and sympathies to the individuals on whom pain was inflicted, we wish to reiterate our strong commitment to maintain a strong partnership with the media fraternity in the course of executing all our core functions as laid out in the constitution,” the UPDF spokesperson said.

Uganda dropped five places to emerge in 117th position in this year’s World Press Freedom Index which rates the freedoms of journalists in the different countries world over.

The Index was compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and assessed a total of 180 countries.

Last year, Uganda was ranked 112th globally (the least position being countries where the press enjoys its freedoms).

Tags: assaultbobi wineGen David MuhoozijournalistsKampalamediaprotestssoldiersUgandaUPDF

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Recent Stories

Museveni Mourns Kanyeihamba, Lauds His Role in Uganda’s Liberation and Justice

Zimbabwe Crowned Kings of African Rugby, Book First World Cup Slot Since 1991

Did Peace Through Tourism Fail?

Chepkwurui, Cherop Win Gold; Chekwemoi, Otim Secure Bronze at African U18/U20 Athletics

Afrigo at 50 Concert Preparations in Full Swing

ACCA, Deloitte Uganda Launch 9th CFO Awards

Stanbic Bank Ad
SoftPower News Logo

SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC, a Ugandan digital media group. Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa.
Plot 4B Malcolm X, Kololo
P.O Box 1497, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256-392-001-701
Email: info@softpower.ug

This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

ADVERTISEMENT
Stanbic Remittance Ad
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More

© SoftPower News

error: Content is protected
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women

© SoftPower News