The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has issued a strong condemnation of the increasing violence and assaults against journalists by security forces.
In a statement released by NAB management, the organisation decried the escalating attacks, which it says threaten press freedom and undermine the democratic principles of the nation.
NAB highlighted that over the past few months, there has been a disturbing trend of security forces targeting journalists, raising concerns about the safety of media professionals in Uganda.
The association emphasised that journalists must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation, or physical harm.
“The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) strongly condemns the escalating violence and assaults meted against our journalists by security forces. These attacks observed over the past few months threaten press freedom and undermine the democratic principles upon which our nation is built. Journalists must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation, or physical harm.”
The latest victim of these attacks is Nation Media Group (NMG) cameraman Steven Kibwiika, who was hospitalised after being assaulted by armed men suspected to be security operatives.
Kibwiika, attached to Spark TV, was attacked in Nammere, Kawempe Division, while covering a suspected case of pre-ticking ballot papers for one of the candidates in the Kawempe North by-election. The assailants also confiscated his camera.
Journalist Raymond Tamale Lwanga, who was with Kibwiika during the incident, confirmed the attack, stating, “My camera person I was within the field, Stephen Kibwiika, has been beaten badly. The people who attacked him also took his camera. This happened when we were covering a story this afternoon in Kawempe.”
This is not the first case of violence against journalists in the area. Ibrah Miracle, a journalist from Top TV, was also roughed up by security forces on nomination day for the same by-election.
The violence in Kawempe has drawn widespread condemnation, with political figures and media personalities raising concerns over the increasing attacks on journalists.
Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), tweeted, “Earlier as our team went and found regime thugs ticking ballot papers for the Kawempe North by-election from a house in Nameere, and plucking number plates off vehicles, the thugs instead beat up our people and journalists, took away some cameras, and shot bullets to intimidate the neighbours who were gathering!”
Mityana District Woman MP Joyce Bagala also weighed in on the issue, stating, “From Ibra Miracle, Steven Mbidde, Steven Kibwiika, Thomas Kitimbo, and other journalists who have fallen victim to electoral violence, the list is growing. The chaos in the Kawempe by-election should concern anyone to raise their voices for a new way of doing politics.”
The organisation, which represents all broadcast media in Uganda, called upon relevant authorities to take swift and decisive action against those responsible for the attacks. NAB stressed that perpetrators must be held accountable under the full extent of the law to prevent further violations.
“We call upon the relevant authorities to take immediate action to hold those responsible accountable. Perpetrators must face the full extent of the law to prevent further violations. The Ugandan government and security agencies have a duty to protect media professionals, not persecute them, ensuring that the press operates freely and without interference.”
Reaffirming its commitment to advocating for a safe and independent media space, NAB acknowledged Uganda’s progress in upholding media freedoms but cautioned that these gains must be safeguarded. The statement underscored the importance of preventing any regression in press freedom, especially as the country approaches upcoming elections.
NAB also announced that it is actively engaging with security forces to find lasting solutions to the issue. “To this end, NAB is actively engaging with security forces to address these concerns, ensure errant officers are held accountable, and find a lasting solution to prevent a recurrence, particularly as we approach the upcoming elections.”