By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
The minister of state for youth and children affairs, Balaam Barugahara has attributed media reports on the recent incidents of journalists’ brutal assault by security officers to a misunderstanding of security equipment.
Speaking at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre on Tuesday, Balaam claimed that journalists mistakenly identified security officers’ radio call antennas as batons or canes.
The minister was responding to a question by journalists on the allegations of security officers assaulting journalists and locals during the Kawempe North by-election processes, particularly on the ugly scenes that occured on the polling day where many journalists were assaulted, abducted and tortured by police, Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT) and other security agencies.
Despite expressing sympathy for the victims and promising government support, Balaam cautioned journalists against filming security officers during operations.
During the campaigns and election day in Kawempe, several journalists were reportedly assaulted, arrested, and injured. Top Television journalist Miracle Ibra suffered severe injuries to his left eye while covering a scuffle involving the arrest of National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi. According to Ibra, security officers used batons to beat him, and his camera and laptop were destroyed in the process.
On election day, NBS photojournalist Francis Isano was brutally beaten and remains under treatment at Rubaga Hospital. Other affected journalists included Nation Media Group reporters Abubaker Lubowa and Raymond Tamale, who were allegedly abducted, tortured, and later released. Journalists from NTV, Salt Media, and other media houses including Dennis Kabugo, David Ijo, Hasfallen Nanvuma, Yasin Kiboyo, Owora Gabriel, Robert Mutebi, Stephen Middle, and Steven Kibwika were also subjected to beatings.
The government, however, maintains that the confrontations were provoked by the opposition.
During the press conference, Balaam alleged that NUP supporters had stockpiled black sharp stones, reportedly filling at least six lorries, which they used to attack security officers and intimidate voters. He accused journalists of selectively filming security personnel while ignoring violent actions by opposition supporters.
Following the attacks on journalists, media houses announced a blackout on covering police and Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) events, demanding accountability and an investigation into violations of journalists’ rights and press freedom. In response, Balaam revealed that the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, is planning a meeting with journalists’ associations, media owners, news editors, and individual journalists to mend relations between security forces and the media.
UJA Responds
Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda condemned Balaam’s remarks, arguing that they promote impunity and violate Uganda’s laws on assault.
“It’s regrettable that a person in the name of minister Balaam Barugahara is promoting acts of impunity in our country. Assault is a criminal offense under Uganda’s Penal Code Act,” Kirunda stated.
He added that whether security forces used cables, batons, or radio call antennas, any form of assault against journalists and citizens must be condemned. Kirunda advised Balaam to focus on leaving a positive legacy in his office, reminding him that public office should not be abused.
“We totally disagree with him because his statement implies that assault is permissible in Uganda, yet the law clearly criminalizes it,” Kirunda said.
He further criticized the culture of impunity, stating, “That’s the problem this country has had leaders who think they are above the law.”
While welcoming the proposed engagement between security forces and the media, Kirunda insisted that disciplinary action must be taken against officers responsible for the assaults in Kawempe.
“It’s a welcome move but this is an engagement and they should not think that this will be business as usual […] We want those who committed these crimes to be paraded and disciplinary actions taken against them. We don’t want reoccurrence of these , we want them to be held accountable for their mistakes,” Kirunda said.
Pattern of Government Officials’ Controversial Statements
This is not the first time a government official has made controversial remarks regarding the safety of Ugandans.
In 2020, then-police spokesperson Fred Enanga made a dismissive statement about opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine). After Kyagulanyi alleged that a drone was spying on him at his residence, Enanga mocked the claim, saying:
“There are allegations that Hon. Kyagulanyi was walking around in his compound at night and saw something shining. I don’t know if he has a habit of walking around at night. However, what he saw was perhaps a star.” “There are words going around that he saw a drone, But that report is not with us.”
Such statements have fueled concerns over impunity and the safety of Ugandan citizens, particularly journalists covering political events.
