Namaye, Onyango Snubbed as Journalists Commence Police Boycott

Journalists under the Uganda Journalists Association yesterday announced that they will not be covering Police events until further notice.

These through their President Hajji Bashir Kazibwe Mbaziira blame the Police top leaders for turning a blind eye  as Police officers brutalize journalists on duty, with a fresh example of Makerere university demonstrations where several journalists were assaulted to the extent of being hospitalized.

“This boycott is for all journalists, editors and media owners; it’s not only for reporters but for the whole profession,” Mbaziira said

The UJA President says this protest will be effective only if editors don’t assign reporters to cover Police stories.

As part of the protest, journalists will hold a peaceful demonstration on Monday where they will match to police headquarters in Naguru and Parliament to present their petitions.

On Thursday evening, the boycott affected Polly Namaye the deputy Police spokesperson who was shunned by journalists during a joint pres briefing at UNEB headquarters in Ntinda

Later, Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango was not allowed to participate in a radio talk show at Top Radio as UJA president Kazibwe Bashir one of the panelists walked out at the beginning of the program.

The moderator tried to convince Kazibwe to listen to Onyango’s side, but the journalists’ president stood his ground.

“With due respect to Ugandan journalists, I can’t sit in the same environment, share oxygen with you as my colleagues are suffering” Kazibwe told Onyango as he left the studio