KAMPALA – Police have promised to address raised by journalists regarding brutality while covering demonstrations.
The pledge was made by Police Political Commissar Asan Kasingye while receiving a petition from journalists at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, on Monday.
Mr Kasingye received the petition on behalf of the IGP, Mr Martins Okoth-Ochola, and promised to give a feedback by Wednesday.
“I am here to receive the petition, I cannot give you a way forward because it is the IGP who can. I am going to deliver it and I am sure you will get a feedback,” he told the journalists.
Presenting the petition, Uganda Journalists Association president Kazibwe said the boycott on police functions would continue until police address their grievances.
“The blackout on all police activities are still underway. We should not cover any polic conference until our demands are worked upon,” Mr Kazibwe said.
The journalists want prosecution of police officers who have brutalised the press covering the recent student protests at Makerere University and an order barring police officers from future battering of journalists on duty.
The journalists delivered the petition after hours of confrontation with police officers who had blocked the former’s march to Naguru to deliver the petition. Several journalists were beaten, arrested and many were injured.
Other journalists proceeded to Kampala CPS to see their arrested journalists. At police they were also blocked by police and another fight ensued. Kampala Metropolitan Police Commander Moses Kafeero then asked the aggrieved journalists to board a police van to deliver them to Naguru Police headquarters to present their petition to the IGP.
Last week, several journalists who were covering Makerere student protests against the 15 per cent tuition increment were beaten by police. Some were hospitalised after the brutality