By Stephen Ouma Bwire – Editor
The recent by – election of the Local Council V in Bukedea district left a lot to be desired
in the manner in which security agencies have continuously assaulted journalists.
Security agencies led by Uganda Police who were overseeing the elections, assaulted NBS TV journalist Mr Eddy Enuru at Bukedea Township Primary School polling station.
Mr Enuru’s crime was being present at a polling station where alleged pre– ticked and ballot stuffing had taken place. Journalists clad in their Press jackets and identifiable with their IDS, were turned away from covering
irregularities where it was said by 6am before voting started, one ballot box was already full.
No sooner had the journalists decided on their work next than security operatives pounced on Mr Enuru slapping him, damaging his phone and confiscating his camera.
A stout fellow who slapped Enuru twice vanished from the scene in a white Toyota Wish car registration number UBD 924.
Some voters who turned up after 7am were astonished to find their names already ticked as having voted. Mr Simon Peter Emwamu said the attack on Unuru took place in presence of Soroti West Division Police Commander Rashid Byansi and unidentified electoral commission officials.
This is not the first time journalists are being beaten by security operatives during elections. Journalists in Teso Sub – region have this month demonstrated against brutality and repression directed at members of the press.
Stakeholders under the National Mechanism on Safety of journalists in Uganda have condemned security agencies especially Police for directing
repression at media practitioners. The attacks against journalists come at a time when stakeholders have been establishing dialogue aimed at preventing crimes against journalists, protecting journalists and prosecuting perpetrators of crimes against journalists.
Security agencies should stop attacking journalists who are mirror and mouthpiece of society, reporting news objectively and using a multiplicity of sources at their disposal.
It is perverse for security agencies to attack journalists who unearth irregularities during elections where pre – ticked and ballot stuffing has been rampant and some aspiring candidates are beaten and disenfranchised.
Members of the Fourth Estate should not lose hope but start collecting evidence with view to prosecuting perpetrators of crimes against journalists. Security agents who commit crimes against journalists would be prosecuted in their individual capacities as a deterrent measure to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists.■
