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

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.

The Buganda Road Magistrates Court has granted non-cash bail of sh500,000 each to five women activists from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction, including Deputy Kampala Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura, who had spent about three weeks in prison on charges of common nuisance.

The other activists granted bail are Ingrid Turinawe, Faridah Nangonzi, Shadiya Namubiru, and Phionah Kabayinza. Presiding over the case, Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Winnie Nankya Jatiko ruled that the opposition members presented as sureties were substantial. The sureties were directed to execute non-cash bail forms of one million shillings, and the case was adjourned until April 23, 2025, for the hearing to commence.

The five activists were arrested on February 19, 2025, in downtown Kampala on Ben Kiwanuka Street while wearing blue and white T-shirts with the inscription “Kill me but spare Besigye.” They were protesting the continued detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has been in prison since November 16, 2024, following his arrest in Nairobi, Kenya, and subsequent extradition to Uganda. He, along with his co-accused Obeid Lutaale, faces charges of treason and misprision of treason.

Prosecution told the court that on February 17, 2025, the women participated in an unauthorized procession on Ben Kiwanuka Street, allegedly disrupting traffic and causing inconvenience. Initially, the women were remanded to Luzira Prison until February 25, 2025, after spending seven days in detention and a night in the Kampala Central Police Station cells. However, on that date, the Uganda Prisons Services informed the court that they could not be produced because they only had politically inscribed clothing, which violated prison regulations.

The court advised them to obtain alternative clothing, leading to today’s appearance, where they wore blue blouses paired with scarves in Uganda’s national colors: black, yellow, and red. Immediately after their release, the activists pulled out the same T-shirts they wore on the day of their arrest and resumed their protest, chanting “Free Besigye!” Their actions drew a crowd of supporters, friends, and relatives, briefly blocking the court’s main entrance in a mix of celebration and extended protest.

Besigye and Lutaale remain on remand until March 28, 2025, when they will return to court for an update on the progress of investigations into their alleged solicitation of financial and logistical support from meetings held in Switzerland, Kenya, Uganda, and Greece to allegedly overthrow the government of Uganda. After their release, the activists were driven by opposition Members of Parliament to the FDC Katonga faction offices, where they were officially welcomed from jail.