By Kabuye Ronald
Ugandan Journalists have walked out a press conference organized by security agencies citing brutality meted on them while covering opposition candidates’ campaigns.
The journalists who were very bitter, accused security forces of deliberately targeting them while in line of duty to the extent of labelling them as collateral damages.
The protest followed the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) Political Commissar Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko refusal to apologize for the violence they commit against them which sent scribes into protest and storming out of a press conference at the Uganda Media centre.
UPDF spokesperson Brig. Flavia Byekwaso attempts to calm down the tempers of the journalists fall on deaf ears.
On Sunday morning freelance journalist Ashiraf Kasirye of Ghetto TV, Daniel Lutaaya of NBS TV, and Ali Mivule of NTV were injured as they covered the campaigns of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu popularly known as Bobi Wine in Kyabakuza, Masaka.
Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) president Mathias Rukundo condemned the attack on media and vowed not to rest until the matter is fully investigated and justice served.
He urge all journalists to continue exercising their duties and freedoms without fear or favour.
“No amount of intimidation or exercise of unlawful acts of violence against the media fraternity will scare us into silence. We will continue to expose all the actions of violators of our rights and pursue all possible avenues to secure our freedoms” said Rukundo
