Mathius Rukundo the president of Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has petitioned Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba the Chief of Défense Forces (CDF), Abas Byakagaba the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama the chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission over the safety of journalist during the 2026 general elections.
Exclusively speaking to this investigative website, Rukundo noted that the writings on the wall indicate that if nothing is done in time, the coming election is going to be violent and the likely prime victims are going to be journalists because they are always the grass that suffers when the political elephants are fighting.
Rukundo divulged that journalists are always at the fore front of all elections since they have to secure first-hand information and update the public so that they are guided well on the leaders they have to elect to office.
“What we want is an urgent pronouncement by the State Officials of Uganda on how the protection of journalists will be done. If for example you look at the recent by-election in Kawempe, many journalist were victims of the violence in that by election with most of them succumbing to grave and permanent injuries,” Rukundo stated in his strongly worded petition.
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He added that during the violent Kawempe by elections, working tools of some journalists like cameras, phones, live broadcasting equipment were confiscated by masked security operatives and since then, most of them have never been given back to their owners.
He indicated the there is a need to hold a sincere and comprehensive conversation about the safety of journalists ahead of the 2026.
“These grave atrocities were deprivation of their right to freedom of the press and expression which includes freedom of the press and other media enshrined under Article 29(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 as amended, hence creating a safety concern for the journalists,” Rukundo noted.
He elaborated to this website that they have secured a number of Court decelerations against institutions like UPDF and police plus individuals for violating the rights of practising journalists but consistently, security bosses have assured them them of not repeating the very mistakes of hurting journalists. However, their statements remain on paper and are not executed.
Rukundo said this is the reason they need to have a one-on-one conversation with the top leadership of the said institutions.
Rukundo pleaded to journalists not to sell their profession by accepting to be mislead by people especially some of their bosses who front their personal interests and are paid peanuts to cover for their mistreatment by security personels.
“Journalists were compromised and withdrew their witnesses’ statements because the people UJA is complaining about thought that without their statements, our cases before Courts of law would lose merit. Good enough we have those who stood their ground and know their rights who helped us to secure Court declarations against police and UPDF,” Rukundo said.
However, Julius Musinguzi, the electoral commission spokesperson assured journalists that their rights will be protected during the 2026 elections.
He also advised them to follow the electoral laws when covering the elections.
