At least 18 journalists were brutally assaulted by Ugandan security forces while covering a by-election in Kampala, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The attacks occurred on March 13 in the Kawempe North district, where reporters were allegedly beaten by army personnel and an anti-terrorist unit.
“They made us take off our shirts to cover our eyes, told us to lie down, and hit us with sticks and the tops of their guns,” said Abubaker Lubowa, a photojournalist for the Daily Monitor.
Several journalists reported that their equipment was confiscated and destroyed, while others were held incommunicado in an army van.
“They forced us to count to 15 and hit us at each number. The windows were covered. It was very hot,” said Raymond Tamale of NTV Uganda.
RSF condemned the attacks, calling them “unacceptable” and demanding a full investigation.
“Extreme violence towards clearly identified journalists is a serious violation of press freedom,” said Sadibou Marong, RSF’s director for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uganda, which ranks 128th out of 180 on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, has long faced criticism over media repression. With a presidential election set for 2026, concerns over press freedom are mounting.
The Kawempe North by-election saw President Yoweri Museveni’s candidate lose to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi’s party.
The army has pledged to investigate the violence, with spokesman Chris Magezi attributing the attacks to a “misunderstanding and miscoordination,” claiming journalists were mistaken for violent supporters.
