Uganda’s army has issued an apology after soldiers were caught on video brutalizing a journalist on Monday.
The Reuters reporter was beaten by soldiers while covering a protest by some Ugandans agitating over the arrest of some lawmakers.
The protest in the capital Kampala turned violent when troops fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the crowd.
Several people were arrested and some journalists were reported to have suffered abuses in the hands of soldiers.
A video capturing the brutality went viral on social media, with many calling for the release of the photo-journalist James Akena.
Akena was detained for several hours after his ordeal.
A statement from the military said soldiers who molested journalists would be arrested and punished.
— Brig RichardKaremire (@UPDFspokespersn) August 21, 2018
Why Ugandans are protesting
Protesters have been agitating over the arrest of some lawmakers, charged with instigating an attack on the President, Yoweri Museveni.
The President’s convoy was allegedly attacked in the town of Arua in the country’s northwest last week Monday. Arrests were quickly made with vocal lawmaker and Musician, Bobi Wine among those arrested.
One person died on Sunday after police clashed with protesters in Kampala, firing teargas and live bullets to disperse them. Five others were also wounded in the incident, Daily Monitor reports.
Protests emerged following news of the brutality meted out to those arrested while in detention.
On Monday police again clashed with protesters, beating and arresting some of them including journalists covering the incident.
That’s journalist @akena_james shortly before he was beaten, arrested and detained. He’s free now. Security forces need to recognise and take seriously the role of journalists during such situations. #Journalismisnotacrime pic.twitter.com/RRoxyIO1lO
— Grace Natabaalo (@Natabaalo) August 20, 2018
The European Union and the United States of America have all condemned the treatment of the detained MPs.
The EU and the USA have all called for the respect of the rights of those arrested.
A coalition of civil society organisations has also called on security officers accused of torturing suspects to be put on trial.
Source: Africafeeds.com
