Candidates, leaders condemn violence

A cross-section of leaders yesterday condemned the violence meted out on journalists from several media houses during the Kawempe North constituency by-election yesterday.

At least five journalists from the Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-Uganda) were among several assaulted by hooded, uniformed, and unhooded but plain-clothed security personnel during the polls.
Those beaten up, arrested and driven off to undisclosed places included Hasifah Nanvuma from Spark TV, David Ijo, Raymond Tamale, and Dennis Kabugo from NTV, and Abubakar Lubowa from the Daily Monitor. They were later released by their captors.

The repeat polls sought to replace MP Mohammad Ssegirinya of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, who died at Rubaga Hospital in Kampala on January 9, after a long illness.
The journalists tortured join their colleague Steven Kibwika from Spark TV, who was assaulted on Wednesday while filming individuals accused of suspicious activities intended to favour one of the candidates.
Mr Daniel Kalinaki, the General Manager Editorial at NMG, was prompted yesterday afternoon to withdraw a contingent of NMG-Uganda journalists deployed to cover the elections after the security personnel escalated the violence against journalists.

“We have made the difficult decision to temporarily withdraw our Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda journalists from covering the Kawempe North by-election for their safety, as they are being targeted and attacked by armed soldiers and undercover security operatives,” Mr. Kalinaki posted on his official X platform at 1:22 pm yesterday.

Officials from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, including spokesperson Emmanuel Dombo, and Buganda Region vice chairperson did not pick up our repeated calls nor replied to our messages by press time last night.
But Mr Godfrey Kabyanga, the State minister for ICT and National Guidance, who appeared on the KFM’s Hot Seat talk show last evening, condemned the brutal acts against journalists.
“I sympathise with the affected journalists. I have not been in the field, therefore, I don’t know what exactly happened, but as the government, we don’t condone any act of violence,” he said.

Opposition speak out

The brutality against journalists also prompted some political leaders, including candidates in the race, to condemn the cruel acts. They described the incidents as ‘unfortunate,’ with many saying they anticipated the violence.
Kampala Capital City Authority City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago said the clampdown on the media was reflective of broader attempts to repress the media.
He cited the recent directives by the Chief of Defense Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also a Special Presidential Adviser on Special Operations.

Mr Lujkwago, who is also the interim president of yet-to-be-registered political entity, the People’s Front for Freedom, said: “You saw him tweeting about training all journalists in [National Leadership Institute] Kyankwanzi, followed by a meeting with the Uganda Communication Commission, where media owners were summoned and [Youth] minister Balaam [Barugahara] presented his directives.

“What happened yesterday was expected. We fear it could worsen. The future of media in Uganda is in grave danger… the media is not only shrinking but also fizzling … journalists are now an endangered species in Uganda,” he warned.
Veteran journalist and Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda remarked that crimes against journalists would continue and may worsen in 2026 General Election.

“I sympathise with journalists as they need to strategise on how to practice journalism in Uganda. We are entering a new era where we must all plan for our future. These crimes will persist because where authoritarian leaders exist, the media becomes the target,” he warned.

The National Unity Platform (NUP) party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said: “It is unfortunate that these individuals engage in such acts. If they believe their actions are justified, why do they not want the public to witness it? The regime has chosen to stoop so low as to physically assault journalists.”

Ms Alice Alaso, the national coordinator of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) party, sounded a caution. “We’re in a situation where the government has declared war against its citizens. What they are doing is worse than what they originally fought against in the Bush war. Now they aim to silence the media to eliminate dissent without anyone knowing.”