By Mukembo Wilfred
Uganda Police force deputy inspector general of police Maj. Gen. Paul Lokech has revealed that effective today, 31st, December they will only allow those with Uganda Media Council cards to cover political campaigns.
“We wish to notify the public that with effect from the 31.12.2020, the police and sister security agencies shall recognize ONLY journalists and media practitioners who are accredited by the Media Council, during the coverage of political campaigns and other electoral events.
The accreditation process that has been open to all media practitioners expires on the 31.12.2020. As we had indicated in our communication of 14.12.2020, the accreditation will help us distinguish journalists who are compliant from those who are holding out.
The Media Council has generated a list of all journalists who have been accredited, registered and are compliant with valid Media Council press badges, which shall operate as a working tool by the bonafide journalists.
All the accredited journalists and media practitioners, must visibly wear their press badges at all times, while covering the political campaigns and electoral events. They should also know that the media press badges are personalized and therefore, non-transferable.
We would like to further remind all accredited journalists that our zonal and territorial commanders have been availed the list of all successfully accredited journalists for ease of verification. This arrangement will help us accord journalists better protection over the remaining electoral process” read Lokech Statement
However, this move has not been welcomed by journalists under their umbrella body Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) who first petitioned the Uganda Media Council challenging the matter in which the process was being conducted.
they also argued that the council was not fully constituted and thus had no mandate to accredit journalists
