By Waswa Tenywa
Human Rights Network for Journalist-Uganda (HRNJ) has expressed concern over unknown people threatening journalists that they would harm them for siding with opposition in their course of reporting.
Speaking to the media today at Hotel Triangle in Kampala, HRNJ National Coordinator Robert Ssempala said they have received complaints from some journalists who covered Arua by-elections alleging that they receive threats from unknown people who accuse them of promoting the opposition agenda.
Ssempala said a one Steven Bakaleke has been calling journalist with intent to create fear within the media fraternity to shy away from giving the opposition and dissenting voices a fair and objective coverage.
He appealed to the police and sister agencies to investigate the claims and bring perpetrators to book and also ensure safety of journalists who cover political related activities.
Ssempala added that in a bid to instill fear among journalists, perpetrators have unleashed a list of 19 journalists on social Media whom they said are being used by the opposition to overthrow government.
According to the list from the anonymous source, the 19 journalists are alleged to have sealed a deal with opposition on 17th August at katonga road in Kampala.
Meanwhile on the issue of the journalists who were tortured by the army during the 20th August 2018 demonstration in Kampala, Ssempala said they held a meeting with the UPDF officials and they accepted to cover medical bills for the assaulted journalists, compensate them and promised to bring the responsible individual officers to book.
Ssempala said after negotiations they decided to suspend the UPDF coverage boycott.
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