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Ugandan Journalists Protest Security Brutality

Halima Athumani

   KAMPALA - Journalists in Kampala Monday walked out of a news conference
   after a top military officer refused to apologize for injuries meted on
   journalists covering the campaign trail Sunday. Instead, the police
   deployed heavily with officers saying they were scared journalists were
   going to harm them.
   On Sunday night, journalists received a text message inviting them to a
   press conference to be addressed by the chief of defense forces,
   General David Muhoozi, on Monday morning at Kampala's Media Center.

   However, upon arrival, journalists who had come in large numbers were
   addressed instead by the political commissar for the Uganda People's
   Defense Forces, Brigadier General Henry Matsiko.

   After speaking about the upcoming 40th anniversary of the UPDF, Matsiko
   was asked why journalists are being targeted.

   Three journalists, including Ali Mivule of NTV Uganda and Ashraf
   Kasirye of Ghetto TV were hit with tear gas canisters and rubber
   bullets by security forces on Sunday in the Masaka district.

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