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Gertrude Mutyaba of NTV and Zainab Namusaazi of NBS TV say they were assaulted by Bobi Wine’s team
The National Unity Platform (NUP) Party President, Bobi Wine, faces calls to address allegations of assault by his security team against three journalists last weekend.
Gertrude Mutyaba from Nation Media Group owned NTV Uganda and Zainab Namusaazi from Next Media NBS TV claim they were attacked by individuals associated with Bobi Wine’s security detail while covering a burial in Lwengo.
The Greater Masaka Journalists Association (GREMAJA) asserts that the journalists were attacked by Bobi Wine’s bodyguards during their coverage in Manja Village, Lwengo. The victims include Gertrude Mutyaba of NTV, Magret Kayondo of Radio Simba, and Zainab Namusaazi of NBS TV.
According to GREMAJA, one of the assailants is identified as Achileo Kivumbi, a bodyguard to Bobi Wine. The journalists reportedly suffered physical assault and damage to their equipment at the hands of Kivumbi and his group.
“This act of brutality not only targets the media but also constitutes a blatant violation of freedom of expression,” stated Farish Magembe, President of GREMAJA.
GREMAJA calls for a thorough police investigation and urges media rights advocates, including the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), to engage in the case.
“We are committed to pursuing justice for our fellow journalists and will push for public prosecution to hold the perpetrators accountable,” declared Magembe.
The journalists have given NUP leaders 48 hours to issue a written apology and provide compensation to the injured reporters. As of Monday afternoon, neither Bobi Wine nor the NUP leadership has responded to the allegations.