Journalists have banned covering police’s activities for indefinite period of time.
The announcement follows Thursday ugly incidents at police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala in which several journalists were manhandled, kicked and beaten by men in uniform as they were blocked from covering court proceedings.
Police court was delivering a ruling of Buyende DPC ASP Muhammad Kirumira.
It recommended that he should be demoted by two ranks after he was found guilty of parading fellow officers he arrested way back before the media.
Media reports indicate that In one incident, Galaxy FM’s Amina Nalule who is currently pregnant was pushed to the ground by the police officers and tried to stop fellow journalists from helping her up.
The national coordinator for Uganda Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) Robert Ssempala, against that backdrop asked the media fraternity to issue a ban on covering police activities.
“They have turned us into a playing field that they can call us when they want to get publicity but kick us around in other cases. We are doing a job like they are doing but if they don’t like what we are doing, why we should promote them,” Ssempala said.
“Whoever does not wish us well, we should not hobnob with them. We must stamp our feet down to show our discontent over the manner we are treated by people supposed to promote human rights and freedoms.”
He added that, “unless we have mended our relations, we shall not promote their events.”