Several journalists detained as police disperse their march

A march by a section of members of Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) was Monday dispersed by police officers.

Several members of the association were arrested on Jinja Road while marching to police headquarters in Naguru

They are detained at the Central Police Station in Kampala.

UJA president Mr Bashir Kazibwe is one of the journalists who have been arrested.

The journalists were marching to the Naguru to petition the leadership of the force to stop their officers who are fond of brutalising media practitioners whenever they are deployed to cover riots and demonstrations.

Last week, several journalists who were covering protests at Makerere University were hospitalised after being brutalised by police officers.

Mr Alex Esagala, a Daily Monitor photojournalist , who was wearing a branded jacket showing he is a media person, was injured on Sir Apollo Kaggwa Road after police fired two teargas canisters at him.

Mr Geoffrey Twesigye, a photographer with NTV Uganda, was another victim of police brutality.

Mr Lawrence Kitata of Vision Group, was arrested on and detained at Makerere University Police Post.

Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango last week blamed the journalists for distancing themselves from police officers during riots and get caught up in the ensuing fracas.