The Ugandan military has apologised for what it called the unprofessional conduct of soldiers who ‘molested’ journalists as they covered a protest in the capital, Kampala, on Monday.
In a video widely shared on social media, Reuters photographer James Akena is seen cowering as soldiers beat him. According to AFP news agency, he was detained for several hours after being beaten.
In a statement issued Tuesday by UPDF Spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire (in featured photo), the army said: “UPDF wishes to express its displeasure over such behaviour by those individuals, and as a result, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) has ordered for their arrest and punishment.”
The army added: “While expressing apologies and sympathies to individuals on whom pain was inflicted, we wish to reiterate our strong commitment to maintain a strong partnership with the media fraternity in the course of executing all our core functions as laid out in the Constitution.”
Earlier Human Rights Watch called on the Ugandan police and military to stop attacks on the media and respect the rights of all protesters.
On Monday one person was killed and more than 100 were arrested during protests over the detention of several opposition MPs and activists.
Last week two journalists were arrested as they reported live from where a driver of the detained MP and musician Robert Kyagulanyi – known as Bobi Wine – was killed.
Human Rights Watch wants an independent investigation into the shooting of Yasiin Kawuma.
It says the beating and arresting of journalists is evidence the Ugandan authorities want to cover up the conduct of the security forces
Wine, a popular Afrobeats star who was elected as an opposition MP last year, remains in detention and is due to appear before a military court on Thursday on charges of unlawfully possessing firearms.
His family alleges he has been beaten up in custody.
