By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Journalists Monday morning, by show of solidarity snubbed a joint security organs press conference over their colleagues who are currently nursing wounds in various hospitals as a result of unbearable continuous brutality meted against them by a group of unprofessional security operatives.
Journalists as usual, were invited for a press conference that we have since learnt that was about UPDF’s “Tarehe Sita Celebrations”. However, when they reached at the venue, they tasked Brigadier Henry Masiko and the force’s spokesperson Brig.Gen. Flavia Byekwaso who headed the presser to first apologize on behalf of their operatives’ illegal acts against journalists before they said anything. It’s at that point that arrogant Henry Matsiko responded telling them off to instead be the ones to act ‘professionally’ while covering opposition events!
It is against that background that the now tough journalists switched off their gadgets and started walking out of the Uganda Media Centre gardens where the pressor was taking place, vowing to never cover any security forces’ event till they ‘master’ the role of journalists and start respecting them.
READ ALSO: Just In: Bobi Wine’s Top Ghetto-TV Journalist Kasirye Shot By Police!
As a result, shame-faced UPDF Chief Political Commissar (CPC), Brig-Gen Henry Masiko, UPDF’s mouthpiece Gen. Byekwaso and Police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga, swallowed their shyness and pride, knelt down and started seeking for sympathy and forgiveness from the now unbothered journalists. Journalists this time round refused to cover the presser and instead asked the security to change their behaviours, make a public apology before they can invite them to cover the same next time.
The development follows yesterday’s fracas where security operatives in Lwengo attacked and brutalized a number of journalists among them including Bobi Wine’s Ghetto TV journalist Ashraf Kasirye, NTV’s Ali Mivule, and NBS’ Daniel Lutaaya as they covered opposition presidential aspirant Hon.Robert Kyagulanyi’s campaigns.
Meanwhile, Uganda Editor’s Guild has joined a couple of journalists umbrella organizations including Uganda Independent Online Journalists Association (INDOJA-U) calling on Inspector General of Police Martins Okoth Ochola and the Chief of Defence Forces Gen. David Muhoozi to rein in on their men and officers under their command, and publicly condemn the attacks on journalists, and order a transparent and independent investigation into the violence involving security agencies.
