Kabale Journalists Storm RDC’s Office Over Media Harassment

Journalists operating in Kabale District on Thursday afternoon stormed the office of the Resident District Commissioner Darius Nandinda to protest his persistent attack on them.

This came after Mr Nandinda confiscated a phone belonging to Richard Akandwanaho, a reporter working with Voice of Kigezi FM Kabale. Akandwanaho was allegedly taking pictures when Nandinda was intercepting vehicles in Kabale town over the Covid-19 lockdown.

In response to what they called continuous harassment, threats and assault, the journalists in Kabale stormed Nandinda’s office and demanded their right to perform their job unhindered.

“It’s shameful and painful. The RDC should be cooperating with the media, because I believe we are stakeholders in this country. That’s why the president recently categorized us as essential workers in his fight against Covid-19. Nandinda has been harassing the press for quite a long time.” Said job Namanya Apuuli, a New Vision reporter.

Namanya said they had hoped to meet the RDC but the meeting didn’t go as planned.

“We thought we could meet today and resolve everything that has been going wrong between us. But he wanted to disarm the more. He commanded us to put our phones on his table, which we rejected” Namanya said.

“You can’t find me taking a picture in a public place, when you are impounding vehicles and you threaten to arrest me and take my phone. Perhapss what you’re doing is illegal; you don’t want people to know what is happening. We are journalists, we report what is happening. We want the RDC to know that we aren’t casual laborers,” added Uziah Tusasire a reporter with TV West.

The journalists accused the RDC of failing to act according law on several occasions while executing duties in the district as the representative of the president.

In Uganda, press freedom is guaranteed by the country’s constitution which was signed in 1995.

Additionally, the African Commission on Human and People’s rights in its 32nd Ordinary Session meeting on 17th to 23rd October 2002 adopted the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of expression in Africa.