US Ambassador to Uganda; H.E Natalie E. Brown
The US Embassy in Uganda is calling for the protection or journalists as the government of the East African nation asks scribes to seek new accreditation to cover the 2021 general elections.
In a message posted on twitter on Tuesday, the embassy says journalists are a key pillar in ‘safeguarding democracy.’
“Journalists safeguard democracy by investigating, observing, and sharing information, sometimes overcoming great challenges to do so. The U.S. recognizes the work of dedicated journalists in Uganda and elsewhere for their essential role. Knowledge is power. #ProtectJournalists,” the tweet reads.
It comes days after Uganda’s media council issued an ultimatum to journalists to seek accreditation to cover the campaign process leading to the 2021 general elections that will also see Ugandans vote for president.
Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni is facing competition from 10 other candidates in the race for the country’s top job.
On Tuesday morning, Uganda Media Centre posted on its social media platforms some of the accreditation guidelines of Journalists for coverage of 2021 Elections.
“Media houses, editors, journalists and practitioners that obtained accreditation for the year 2020 are required to apply for renewal for the year 2021 given that all current press passes will expire on 31st December, 2020,” one of the tweets says.
Some comments on social media claim the guidelines are targeting media platforms covering the campaign of Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine although government has trashed the reports saying the action is normal procedure.
Last week, the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo said the world power was close watching the election process saying, “We expect our partners to live up to their obligations to hold free and fair elections.”
