Uspa condemn brutality on Ugandan journalists
Remembered: Fufa CEO Edgar Watson joins sports journalists in lighting candles to remember all fallen members of the Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) at Christ The King Church in Kampala yesterday morning. PHOTO by John Batanudde
What you need to know:
- Soccer. Uspa president Sabiiti Muwanga noted that an attack of any journalist was an attack on all journalists and decried the high-handedness exhibited by security forces against individuals who were simply doing their job.
KAMPALA.
Death, torture and the brutal arrest of colleagues were all condemned at the requiem mass organized yesterday by the Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) at Christ the King Church, in memory of deceased journalists.
The morning mass which was led by Fr. Richard Muwonge and climaxed with a traditional norm of candle illumination to remember the dead, was dominated by recent political developments.
“Much as we are renowned in covering sports, deeply in our hearts we’re not happy with the way our fellow journalists are treated,” Uspa president, Sabiiti Muwanga agonizingly stated.
“In the strongest term, we condemn it. Most of the times, army and police officials have proved to be against our profession and many of our colleagues even when they show off all the necessary journalists requirements have been assaulted,” added Muwanga.
Muwanga’s observation came at a time when several journalists have been assaulted while covering recent political developments including the Kyadondo MP Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine detention protest in Kampala earlier his month.
In his biblical teaching, Fr. Muwonge highlighted the need for all journalists to team together and fight for their ‘troubled’ profession. “Am happy that you annually organize this mass. Continue with such spirit. I wouldn’t have known players like Edgar Watson, if it wasn’t you journalists to write about his potential in playing football,” stated Fr. Muwonge.
The mass is part of several activities held annually to mark Uspa’s road safety campaign that started in memory of departed members namely Kenneth Matovu, Leo Kabunga, Simon Peter Ekarot and Francis Batte Junio.
The four perished at Lugazi in a road accident on August 21st 2001 on their way from Jinja on USPA activities.
The one week event started on Tuesday with a blood donation drive at Buganda Royal Institute that has registered as one of the partners in the campaign.
