The day began with the usual hum of an election, a tentative normalcy that quickly dissolved into chaos for the journalists of the Nation Media Group (NMG), tasked with covering the Kawempe North by-election.

Hasifah Nanvuma, her Spark TV microphone poised, sought the voices of the people in Kazo Angola. Her focus was on the silent voters, the absentees. But the story shifted violently when UPDF patrol vehicles descended, arresting political figures and anyone in their path. “They jumped out with whips,” she recounted, her voice still trembling. “They came straight at me.” Her camera, her tool of truth, was smashed. She escaped, a fugitive in her own community, discarding her press badge and jacket, a desperate act of self-preservation. “I hid in a toilet,” she whispered, the indignity of the moment etched in her memory.

David Ijjo, filming the FDC flag bearer, saw the glint of black wire cables in the hands of UPDF soldiers. A premonition of violence sent him scrambling to warn his colleagues, but it was too late. “They shouted to arrest whoever is wearing press,” he said, his voice tight. Journalists were dragged towards waiting drones, beaten with wires, their cameras ripped from their hands.

David Walugembe, lacking protective gear, sought refuge in an NTV car. From his vantage point, he witnessed the brutality unfold, masked security personnel wielding batons and guns, sparing no journalist. “No journalist was spared,” he repeated, the phrase a chilling testament.

Noeline Nabukenya, initially observing a calm scene disrupted by faulty biometric machines, saw the tide turn with the arrest of Kayemba Solo. “I was beaten up,” she said, her voice flat, “cameras damaged by a person who appeared to be a security officer in plain clothes.” Then came the coordinated attacks, journalists hijacked, their equipment destroyed, and their bodies thrown into white drones.

Vicent Lusambya, initially stationed at Homisdallen Primary School, sensed the danger as he moved towards Kawempe-Mbogo Primary School. Removing his press jacket, he sought updates, only to learn of the brutalization of his colleagues. The branded media vehicle, once a symbol of his profession, now felt like a target. He sought anonymity on a boda-boda, fleeing to the relative safety of the Serena duty station.

Barbra Anyait, witnessing the army’s sudden descent upon civilians, sought refuge in a shop, the owner offering a temporary sanctuary. “They started beating people who were standing along the roadside,” she recalled, her voice laced with fear.

Geoffrey Mutumba, deployed to Kawempe Mbogo, saw the calm shatter as armed vehicles and security personnel on motorcycles descended upon the journalists. “We had to run to our vehicles,” he said, the urgency still palpable.

Abubaker Lubowa, the photographer, painted a harrowing picture of captivity. “They made us sit down, blindfolded us, and started beating us with batons and guns,” he recounted, his voice thick with emotion. “They destroyed our cameras, stole our shoes, watches, destroyed our phones.” The drone, a metal cage of terror, became a symbol of their ordeal. “They are using acts of cowardice,” he declared, his voice a defiant whisper.

Raymond Tamale, beaten and thrown into a drone, recited the rosary, a desperate plea for survival. “They made us count from one to 13,” he said, his voice trembling, “and as you are counting, they hit a baton on your head.”

Denis Kabugo, the camera person, tried to run, but was caught, subjected to the same brutal treatment. “The beatings in the drone were too much,” he said, his voice strained. “They kept saying Tamale and my colleagues have big bodies so we can handle the pain.”

Jennifer Kabaale, arriving at Kazo Angola to rescue Nanvuma, found a scene of terror. “We realized that things had become tense and journalists were scared,” she recounted. “Then we saw men in UPDF uniform coming towards us and we ran for safety.” She was saved by a shopkeeper, a silent witness to the brutality, offering refuge from the storm.

Their stories, fragments of a single, horrifying narrative, painted a stark picture of the Kawempe North by-election – not as a democratic exercise, but as a day of fear, violence, and the silencing of truth

The Kabaka of Buganda, Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, has directed his legal team to take action against the Minister of State for Lands, Dr. Sam Mayanja, over his alleged disregard of court rulings concerning the disputed Kaazi land, which is officially owned by the Buganda Kingdom.

In a press statement from the Kingdom, Buganda’s Attorney General, Christopher Bwanika, dismissed Minister Mayanja’s involvement in the land dispute. He condemned the minister’s recent orders instructing the Registrar General of the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to deregister the Buganda Land Board (BLB), the institution responsible for managing the Kabaka’s land.

Bwanika described the minister’s actions as “contempt of court and disregard for the law,” adding that the Kabaka’s legal team had been instructed to file a lawsuit challenging Mayanja’s statements and actions.

“The Kingdom of Buganda has directed its external lawyers to take legal action against Hon. Dr. Sam Mayanja’s declarations, utterances, and actions, including those made during the March 4, 2025, meeting at Kaazi,” Bwanika said.

The disputed land, located on Block 273, Plot 5, has a long and complex history. Initially part of the 350 acres allocated to the Kabaka of Buganda under the 1900 Agreement, the land title was first created in 1923. It was officially registered under the then-Kabaka, His Highness Chwa II, and has since been passed down through successive Kabakas.

He clarified that although Ssekabaka Chwa II received the land from the British colonial government, he did not own it as an individual but as the King of Buganda. “It is important to note that Ssekabaka Daudi Chwa II did not own the Kaazi land in his personal capacity. He held it in his official capacity as Kabaka. This land was later passed on to Ssekabaka Edward Muteesa II and is now held by Kabaka Mutebi II in the same official capacity,” Bwanika explained.

In 1948, then-Kabaka Edward Muteesa II leased the land to the Uganda Scouts Association for 49 years, strictly for scouting and camping purposes. However, following the abolition of kingdoms in 1967, the central government confiscated the land and vested it under the Uganda Land Commission. The land was officially returned to the Kabaka in 1993 through the Traditional Rulers (Restitution of Assets and Properties) Act, and it is now managed by the Buganda Land Board on behalf of the Kingdom.

Bwanika stated that both the Uganda Land Commission and the Scouts Association acted unlawfully by creating unauthorized subleases without the Kabaka’s consent. “The Kabaka successfully petitioned the Commissioner of Land Registration, who subsequently canceled the illegal lease titles,” he said. He further noted that the Kabaka solidified his ownership of the land by winning a legal battle against Prince Kalemeera and others in a landmark 2020 ruling, in which the claimants were found to have falsely claimed ownership of the land.

“As confirmed by the court, it is an undisputed fact that the land rightfully belongs to the Kabaka,” he emphasized. “We urge the public to disregard any misleading claims suggesting otherwise.”

Buganda Land Board spokesperson Denis Bugaya questioned Mayanja’s understanding of the law and criticized his recent remarks and actions, arguing that the minister was fully aware that a court ruling had already settled the dispute. Bugaya informed that all necessary preparations to take Mayanja to court had been completed, and they had sufficient evidence to successfully prosecute him.

“For the first time in modern Buganda Kingdom history, we are taking Mr. Sam Mayanja to court in his individual capacity. We believe we have an actionable case against him for abuse of office and issuing illegal directives to his junior officers,” Bugaya stated.

He emphasized that the Buganda Kingdom would not stand by while individuals like Mayanja mislead the Kabaka’s subjects, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to taking legal action as required by the law. The lawsuit, based on Mayanja’s declarations, utterances, and actions, including those made during the March 4, 2025, meeting at Kaazi, aims to secure legal relief for the Kingdom.

Currently, the Kaazi land, situated on Block 273, Plot 5, remains part of the 350 acres allocated to the Kabaka under the 1900 Agreement. The corresponding land title, created on June 22, 1923, was initially registered under FC 18454 before being entered into the Mailo Register Volume (MRV) 269 Folio 25. In 1948, the Kabaka leased the land to the Uganda Scouts Association for a period of 49 years, starting July 1, 1948.

The lease agreement explicitly prohibited the Scouts Association from subdividing or subleasing the land. This lease was registered under instrument number 81336 in Leasehold Register Volume (LRV) 236, Folio 7

Security forces have assaulted several journalists covering the Kawempe by-election, adding to a disturbing pattern of violence against the media since the election began.

The latest attack occurred at Kazo Angola polling station, where reporters from NMG and Next Media were targeted while documenting the arrests of individuals accused of disrupting the voting process.

During the assault, one reporter’s camera was damaged. This incident is part of a troubling trend of violence against journalists that began on nomination day.

The first attack was recorded when Miracle Ibanda, a reporter with Top TV, was beaten by security personnel. Since then, other journalists, including Stephen Kibwiha from NMG, have faced similar assaults. Reports have also emerged of journalists being forced to delete footage, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the safety of media workers.

Journalists filming the situation and conducting interviews at Mbogo Primary School were chased away. This polling station, where NRM candidate Faridah Nambi cast her vote, had attracted a significant number of journalists.  The area also had a notable presence of security operatives, including Military Police and UPDF personnel.

Armed vehicles, drones, and other surveillance tools were seen passing by the station at regular intervals. Robert Ssempala, National Coordinator for Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) Uganda, condemned the continued attacks, warning that they are no longer isolated incidents but a systematic effort to suppress media coverage. He also noted that, in some cases, police have attempted to cover up these assaults.

Ssempala further stressed that the repeated attacks on journalists raise serious concerns about the credibility of the election.

“As security forces continue to suppress media coverage, there are growing fears that the press is being deliberately silenced, limiting the public’s access to information and undermining the transparency of the electoral process.

The ongoing violence against journalists casts doubt on the fairness of the election and raises alarms about the erosion of press freedom in the country,” he added.

Even before the by-election, the state of journalism in Uganda had been deteriorating, with security forces frequently targeting and attacking journalists.

According to Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 Press Freedom Index, Uganda ranks 128th out of 180 countries.

The report highlights that journalists in Uganda face intimidation and violence almost daily, with security services being the primary perpetrators.

Anxiety has gripped the media fraternity following the arrest and disappearances.

Reports indicate that multiple journalists have been detained, while others remain missing under unclear circumstances, sparking fears of a targeted crackdown on the press. Witnesses describe a chaotic scene where unidentified men—some in Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniforms and others in plain clothes—forcefully arrested journalists, bundling them into drones (unmarked vehicles) before driving off to unknown locations.

Among those arrested or missing are Abu Lubowa, Denis Kagubo, and Raymon Tamale, all affiliated with the Nation Media Group, including Daily Monitor, NTV, and Spark TV. Eyewitnesses recount brutal scenes of journalists being beaten before being taken away. “They were badly assaulted, and the men who took them didn’t identify themselves. Some wore military uniforms, while others were in plain clothes. It was chaotic, and people were too scared to intervene,” said a bystander who requested anonymity.

NTV Uganda has confirmed that its journalists are missing. The arrests come against the backdrop of earlier attacks on journalists in Kawempe, Mbogo, and Kazo Angola, where police and security officers reportedly assaulted reporters. Several journalists, including Hafiswa Nanvuma of NMG, Gabriel Owori of Salt Media, and Everest Mukibi from Bukedde FM, sustained injuries, while their cameras and equipment were destroyed.

Everest Mukibi recounted the ordeal, stating that it appeared security personnel deliberately targeted him and his colleagues during the attack.

According to NBS, their reporter Hakiims Wampamba managed to escape from security operatives. Recounting the situation in a broadcast interview, he said that the situation was volatile, with security forces specifically targeting journalists covering the by-election. Additionally, NBS’ photojournalist Francis Isano has been hospitalized after being assaulted by security operatives. In response to the escalating attacks on its journalists, NBS has since withdrawn some of its reporters from covering the Kawempe North by-election for their safety.

Abu Lubowa spoke to Uganda Radio Network (URN), confirming that several other journalists from Galaxy TV, Salt TV, and other outlets have also been arrested. They are currently being detained at Kawempe Police Station. According to Lubowa, the journalists were apprehended by UPDF for allegedly portraying a negative image of the military and were subsequently handed over to the police. Those injured include Moses Waiswa of Busoga One FM.

Despite mounting concerns, police and other security agencies have remained tight-lipped about the situation. When contacted, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango declined to provide details, stating that all official communication would come from National Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke.

“We are working on it, but the National PRO will give a briefing at 4 PM at the tally center,” Onyango said. The briefing is expected to take place at the National Tally Center in Makerere. The rising hostility toward journalists has forced many to abandon their press jackets—once a symbol of safety—out of fear of being targeted.

“It’s becoming impossible to identify as a journalist in this election. We are being hunted,” said a journalist who requested anonymity for safety reasons. Meanwhile, security forces have intensified their presence at polling stations, with military police, UPDF officers, and heavily armed personnel patrolling key locations. Drones and surveillance equipment have also been deployed, further heightening concerns over press freedom and the safety of journalists covering the elections.