KAMPALA —Editors have condemned the manner in which security agencies treated journalists as they covered the protests at Makerere University.
A number of journalists were arrested, beaten up and others denied entry to the university during the coverage of the protests against the 15% tuition fees increment policy.
The editors, under their umbrella body, the Uganda Editors’ Guild, in a statement issued on Thursday, October 31, 2019, said journalists are mandated to cover the protests as enshrined in the Ugandan Constitution and the security agencies should respect their work.
“The Uganda Editors’ Guild expresses concern and condemns in the strongest terms possible the attacks and restrictions on journalists covering the on-going fees strike at Makerere University,” the statement issued by Mr Daniel K. Kalinaki, the interim chairman of the Uganda Editors’ Guild, and Ms Sylvia Nankya, the Interim Secretary, reads in part.
The editors said among those attacked or injured as security agencies responded to the protests on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 were journalists from NBS Television, the Nation Media Group – Uganda, the Uganda Radio Network, “whereas security agencies had earlier been reported to have restricted access and intimidated journalists from BBC, Bukedde TV and BBS”.
“We call upon the Uganda Police Force and sister security agencies to respect the freedom of journalists to cover the protests as enshrined in the Ugandan Constitution and to avoid actions that compromise their individual safety.
Journalists in the country are urged to keep reporting about topical issues professionally and to report any restrictions or threats made against them,” the statement adds.
See full statement
The Uganda Editors’ Guild statement on the attacks on Journalists
THE Uganda Editors’ Guild expresses concern and condemns in the strongest terms possible the attacks and restrictions on journalists covering the on-going fees strike at Makerere University.
AMONG those attacked or injured as security agencies responded to the protests at Makerere University on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 were journalists from NBS Television, the Nation Media Group – Uganda, the Uganda Radio Network, whereas security agencies had earlier been reported to have restricted access and intimidated journalists from BBC, Bukedde TV and BBS.
*WE call upon* the Uganda Police Force and sister security agencies to respect the freedom of journalists to cover the protests as enshrined in the Ugandan Constitution and to avoid actions that compromise their individual safety.
Journalists in the country are urged to keep reporting about topical issues professionally and to report any restrictions or threats made against them.
_#JournalismIsNotACrime_
_E-Signed_
Daniel K. Kalinaki, Interim Chairman (0782705271)
Sylvia Nankya, Interim Secretary (0778120939)
