Editors team wants fast probe into journalists' attacks

JOURNALISTS|POLICE|EDITORS

KAMPALA - The Uganda Editors' Guild, in a press statement this evening, strongly condemned the violence being meted on journalists by members of the Uganda Police Force and other security agents, during the ongoing General Elections.

They also want the head of all armed forces, to rein in on their officers, and to immediately conduct a probe into this violence.

The Editors' Guild Uganda, is an association of the industry's senior content managers and it was formed to increase journalists' fellowship at the senior level, increase public trust in the profession and defend journalists across the board.

Its statement reads, "We are calling on Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola and the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. David Muhoozi to rein in the men and officers under their command, to publicly condemn the attacks on journalists, and to order a transparent and independent investigation into the violence involving security agencies."

It adds, "Despite repeated appeals to security agencies, as well as law enforcement operatives, to respect the right of journalists to work freely and accord them protection, we continue to see blatant attacks against journalists."

"In fact, according to witnesses, it appears that in today's attacks, which left at least three journalists - Ashraf Kasirye, Ali Mivule and Daniel Lutaaya - in hospital with serious injuries, security agents deliberately targeted journalists." 

They add, "We have arrived at a point where wearing a press jacket that clearly labels one as a journalist makes them less safe and more likely to be targeted for attack. This is unacceptable; journalism is not a crime." 

The editors also note, "We will continue to document collective attacks against journalists and the individual officers who carry them out and those with operational command. Attacks on journalists will not go unrecorded or unpunished. Impunity shall not be allowed to thrive." 

Apart from journalists, the Editors' Guild, is also concerned about the attacks on the general populations during the ongoing General elections.

"While we are specifically concerned about the attacks against journalists, we are also gravely concerned by the unprecedented violence that has undermined this electoral season, and in which many non-journalists have been killed, injured, or been detained, sometimes without trial and for longer than is constitutionally allowed."

They add, "We are concerned that the country is, yet again, sliding down the slippery road of political violence and undoing all the efforts of constitutionalism and the rule of law that have been undertaken for many decades."

"We will continue to assess whether it is safe to continue sending out our journalists to cover these campaigns and other public and state events," they note.