By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The long-standing sour relationship between Uganda security operatives especially Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) and journalists seems to be getting smooth after yesterday’s event that saw members from both sides sharing some great moments of happiness.
TheSpy Uganda yesterday reported that UPDF and journalists under their umbrella organization National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) organized a friendly football match meant to boost their relations. It is in this match that media CEOs mercilessly punished top UPDF generals with baskets of goals that left a couple of generals limping and crawling just like Spy Uganda’s Andrew Irumba had anticipated. NAB CEOs led by their able chairman Kin Kariisa won UPDF generals 2-0 whereas the field journalists beat UPDF junior staff 3-0.
READ ALSO: DIGP Gen. Muzeyi, NAB C/man Kariisa Lock Horns Over LDU Battering Journalists
After the game that ended the late evening, UPDF top generals led by Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi led the media and NAB members to a dinner where all the grievance towards one another was buried and the army vowed to defend and protect journalists’ Human Rights while executing their duties.
As if vows were not enough, the two bodies (UPDF and NAB) came up with a peace pact document termed as a communique that both parties signed committing to be each other’s keeper.
It reads;
READ ALSO: Media Practitioners Petition Min.of ICT Nabakooba Over UPDF, LDU Brutality On Journalists
“THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA IN THE MATTER OF A COMMUNIQUE
THIS COMMUNIQUE is made this Friday, the 16th day of April 2021 at the UPDF’s headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala between UGANDA PEOPLES
DEFENCE FORCES (UPDF), and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BROADCASTERS (NAB).
THE PARTIES UNDERTAKE HEREIN THAT;
1. Both parties shall treat each other with dignity, respect and uphold all the rights including the responsible discharge of the freedom of the press and other media, mindful of the rights and freedoms of others as well as the obligations under the Constitution and the laws of the Republic of Uganda.
2. Both parties shall develop a training plan to sensitize and train the journalists on how operations should be covered, and for the UPDF on how journalists and media practitioners should be treated and handled during operations.
3. NAB shall endeavor and ensure that the journalists and media practitioners are identifiable at all times in the course of their work using branded press jackets, or Press IDs or both, associated to a media house or issued by the media council, or both.
Signed by;
Kin Kariisa
Chairman-National Association of Broadcasters Uganda Peoples Defence Forces
Gen. David Muhoozi
Chief of the Defence Forces”
