19TH/12/2021

STATEMENT: WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK UGANDA

(WHCRDN-U), EXPPRESS CONERN ABOUT INCREASE IN VIOLENCE AGAINST
JOURNALISTS.
In Uganda some security forces have fostered a violent and hostile environment that hinders
the work of journalists generally including women journalists. The increase of attacks against
Journalists is particularly worrying. There has also been an increased statements and
positions from high profile public authorities that put journalists at risk.
The Women Human Rights Defenders Network –Uganda promotes the safety and protection
of women defenders including female journalists. WHRDN-U publically condemns the
violation of Human rights that occurred yesterday February 17, 2021 by the Uganda people’s
defense forces against the media journalists while covering former Presidential aspirant
Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu as he delivered a petition following the kidnappings, torture and
arrest of his supporters to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) offices
Kololo Kampala in the afternoon.
Moreover, this situation occurred while promoting the right to information. During the
attacks on Wednesday, ten journalists were brutally assaulted by the security forces,
including some female journalists namely;, Shamim Nabakooza of Record TV , Irene Abalo of
Nation Media Group, Rashida Nakaayi of Galaxy FM, and Josephine Namakumbi of NBS. The
journalists with severe injuries were rushed to different hospitals and some journalist also had
their gadgets confiscated by the security personnel as the military blocked the roads leading
to the United Nation Human Rights Office in Kololo.
The Women Human Rights Defenders Network –Uganda stand in solidarity with our
comrades in the media and express our concern over the recent attacks on journalists.
We call upon Ugandan authorities to:.
1. Promote and protect freedom of expression and access to public interest information
and the right. Ugandan government must facilitate and promote the right to
information by guaranteeing the security of journalists.
2. Publicly acknowledge the critical role of women journalists and investigate on attacks
against journalists.

For more information contact WHRDN-U on info@whrdnuganda.org.