By Hannah Marion Namukasa
The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has strongly protested the arrest and detention of Channel 44 Television journalist Brian Ssenkumba, who was taken into custody by police officers on Tuesday morning while performing his professional duties.
According to UJA, Ssenkumba was arrested from Kabuusu in Lubaga Division as he covered a story involving supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP). At the time of his arrest, he was clearly identified as a journalist on assignment.
The association reports that police officers impounded Ssenkumba’s work equipment, including a camera, mobile phones, and his press identification card. His current place of detention and the reasons for his continued detention have not been officially communicated.
UJA has described the arrest and detention as illegal and a blatant violation of press freedom and journalists’ rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Uganda. The association says such actions intimidate journalists and undermine the public’s right to access information.
“We strongly condemn the arrest and detention of our colleague Brian Ssenkumba while he was in the line of duty,” UJA said in a statement. “We demand his immediate and unconditional release, as well as the return of all his confiscated work tools.”
The association has called upon the Uganda Police Force to respect media freedom and ensure the safety of journalists as they carry out their work. UJA further warned that it will pursue all available legal and institutional avenues should Ssenkumba not be released promptly.
As of publication, police had not issued an official statement regarding the arrest.
