Daily Monitor
Tuesday May 04 2021
The issue: Press freedom.
Our view: We, therefore, wish to say to whoever is concerned that we shall not tire to demand the freedoms that are ours and the government must deliberately allow us do our work.
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Journalists and media practitioners across the world yesterday commemorated the annual World Press Day. This year’s World Press Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme, ‘information as a public good’.
The day is celebrated principally as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and to show support for media, which are constant targets for censorship, restraints, threats, and brutality by security forces.
Daily Monitor
Friday April 30 2021
The Defense and army spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso, told Daily Monitor that she wasn’t aware of the incident and could not, therefore, comment.
Summary
Our view: We will not tire to call out abusers of journalists rights and demand that justice be done. Hopefully, the military can do the same, be seen to aggressively put its deviant officers in line until gaps that hinder a credible partnership are closed.
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On Wednesday, April 28, two journalists were assaulted by members of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.
The two, Teddy Nakaliga from NTV and Amon Kayanja from Salt TV were covering a demonstration by residents in Kayunga, Wakiso District, who were protesting a two week power blackout.
Soldiers brutalise journalists again
Thursday April 29 2021
The Defense and army spokesperson, Brig Flavia Byekwaso, told Daily Monitor that she wasn’t aware of the incident and could not, therefore, comment.
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The beating of a pregnant journalist alongside another reporter yesterday by members of Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) has put to test the seriousness of the military’s promise to improve relations with the media.
Ms Teddy Nakaliga, a reporter with NTV and Spark TV, and Mr Amon Kayanja of Salt TV, were yesterday assaulted by Military Police personnel while covering a demonstration by residents protesting a two-week power blackout in Kayunga Village, Wakiso District.
Amon Kayanja of Salt Media and Nakaliga Teddy of Spark TV were beaten up by the military while on duty and their gadgets including camera and phone destroyed.
According to the Executive Director of Uganda Journalist Network, Robert Ssempala, the reporters sustained injuries and are currently being assessed by medical personnel.
Adventists Media Association has also condemned the assault, which comes a week after the media engagement between security and the media.
Joshua Musasizi Nsubuga the associations’ president said that this is an indication that security is not committed to improving the working relationship with the media.
Security is yet to comment on the matter. In the engagement, the UPDF army leadership committed to improving the relationship.