What you should know: There was violence during yesterday’s by-election to replace the late MP Muhammad Ssegirinya, and security guards targeted journalists.
The vicious attacks on journalists covering the Kawempe North by-election have been strongly denounced by the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), which is calling for immediate accountability and an end to security personnel’s impunity.
On March 13, 2025, a by-election was held to replace the late MP Muhammad Ssegirinya. It was tainted by violence, with security forces targeting journalists.
While Raymond Tamale, Abu Lubowa, and Denis Kabugo were beaten, taken into custody, and released four hours later with apparent injuries, Hasifah Nanvuma and David Ijjo were attacked while on duty. A number of other reporters from different media outlets were also attacked and had their gear seized.
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With these incidents, there have now been seven attacks on journalists during the by-election. On March 12, while looking into claims of ballot pre-ticking at a home in Nameere, Kawempe North, security personnel assaulted Mr. Steven Kibwika, a journalist for Nation Media Group-Uganda (NMG-U).
Dr. George Lugalambi, the executive director of ACME, stated that the attacks pose a threat to press freedom and democracy.
“The unchecked behavior of security personnel is an obvious assault on independent media, jeopardizes lawful civic engagement in legitimate political endeavors, and erodes the availability of information that is essential for voters to exercise their constitutional rights,” he stated.
“These acts must be condemned because they criminalize journalism.”
Dr. Lugalambi voiced alarm about security personnel purposefully destroying evidence. Several NBS TV cameras were purportedly seized, Ibrahim Miracle was compelled to remove recorded footage, Ms. Nanvuma’s camera was damaged, and Mr. Kibwika’s camera was seized.
He pointed out that many of the violent operatives wore masks, making it difficult to identify them.
Notwithstanding earlier demands that security personnel be identified while on duty, these assaults point to a troubling trend of impunity. Even though State Minister for Internal Affairs Gen. David Muhoozi recently emphasized in Parliament that all security personnel must be identifiable, masked operatives still attack journalists with no repercussions.
ACME was extremely concerned that the violence in Kawempe North might create a risky precedent for the general election in 2026.
“Citizens may interpret the impunity shown in these by-elections as a prediction of what to expect in 2026,” Dr. Lugalambi cautioned.
In order to uphold law and order and guarantee the safety of everyone, including journalists, ACME urged security forces to fulfill their mandate.
“We call on all security forces to fully fulfill their obligations to uphold law and order and ensure the safety of everyone participating in constitutionally protected political and civic activities,” he stated.
“This includes making sure that security officers in the field are accountable, adhere to approved standard operating procedures, and actively protect journalists from attacks while they are performing their official news-gathering duties,” Dr. Lugalambi continued.
