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By Martin Anguyo Arua City As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 general elections, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a strong warning to security operatives, urging them to refrain from torturing journalists who are covering the electoral process. The soci
By Martin Anguyo
Arua City
As Uganda moves closer to the 2026 general elections, the Uganda Law Society (ULS) has issued a strong warning to security operatives, urging them to refrain from torturing journalists who are covering the electoral process. The society emphasized that any officer found guilty of such violations will be held accountable under Uganda’s existing anti-torture laws, reinforcing the country’s commitment to upholding human rights and press freedom.
Egaru Emmanuel Omiat, the ULS Council Representative for Northern Uganda, reiterated the society’s resolve to pursue justice for any journalist subjected to mistreatment. He stated that the ULS will ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. "I underscored the vital role journalists play in disseminating accurate information during elections, emphasize that they must be protected from harassment and violence legal accountability, media protection, election transparency" Egaru noted.
Emmanuel Ojok, a freelance journalist, shared his personal experiences, shedding light on the persistent challenges faced by media professionals during election coverage. He described instances of "intimidation and physical assault by certain security personnel, which have created a climate of fear and hindered journalistic work media intimidation, press challenges, security threats" said Emmanuel.
Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the launch at Hunters Nest in Arua City (Phtoto by Martin)
In response to these concerns, Ignatius Dragudu, the Community Liaison Officer for the West Nile region, assured the public that security forces are committed to cooperating with journalists. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peaceful and professional interactions between media personnel and law enforcement during the election period security cooperation, peaceful elections, and professional conduct.
Bosco Okurut, representing the Uganda Human Rights Commission, advised journalists to wear clearly visible identification while on duty. This precaution, he explained, "helps reduce the risk of journalists being mistaken for intruders or agitators, especially in tense or high-security environments press credentials, safety measures, human rights advocacy".
Meanwhile, Christine, a Senior Magistrate Grade One at the Arua Chief Magistrate’s Court, issued a stern warning regarding the admissibility of confessions obtained through torture. "Any such confessions extracted by security operatives during the election period would be dismissed in court, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance against unlawful practices judicial integrity, anti-torture laws, and legal safeguards" said Christine.
These warnings and assurances come in the wake of troubling reports from the January 2021 elections, which were marred by widespread brutality and numerous incidents of torture against journalists by military and police forces.
The legacy of those events continues to shape the discourse around media safety and accountability as Uganda prepares for another pivotal electoral cycle.