Journalists in Masaka who have been giving publicity to National Unity Platform (NUP) party president, Robert Kyagulanyi – Bobi Wine have vowed to shun all his future activities and never to write anything positive about him and his party.
This after a Saturday May 18, 2024 incident in Lwengo where Kyagulanyi’s bodyguards assaulted several journalists and destroyed their cameras.
The incident took place while Mr Kyagulanyi was attending the burial of the late Pascal Ssekasamba at Manga Village in Kiseka Subcounty in Lwengo District.
The ugly incedent in which the bodyguards pounced on journalists left NBS TV’s Zanaib Namusaazi Ssengendo and Margaret Kayondo of Radio Simba physically injured.
“When I pleaded with them to stop beating up Kayondo was when one of his bodyguards who had a black mask started pulling my leg as he wanted me to fall down in the incident,” Zainab is quotted as saying.
Any eyewitness has told the Eye Media Uganda that one of Bobi’s bodyguards known as Achileo Kivumbi pulled off the lens of Ms Ssengendo’s camera in the fracas.
The physical confrontation left some journalists with minor injuries, and there was significant damage to the equipment, including cameras and other recording devices.
Ms Kayondo described the scene as “chaotic and unwarranted”.
“We were just doing our job, covering a public event, and suddenly we were under attack,” she said.
The Greater Masaka journalist’s association has called for immediate action to be taken against the perpetrators.
“This is a blatant attack on press freedom and the rights of journalists to report freely and safely,” said Antonio Kalyango, a member of the fraternity that goes by its acronym, GREMAJA.
“We demand that Kyagulanyi and his team take responsibility for this unacceptable behaviour and ensure that those involved are held accountable.”
