Kin Kariisa Leads Safety Charge for Journalists, Secures Shs5M Combat Kits Ahead of Tense 2026 General Polls.
As Uganda inches closer to the 2026 general elections, the air is thick with both anticipation and anxiety — especially among journalists who remember the brutalities of previous polls all too well. Following the horrific scenes during the Kawempe by-election, where several journalists were injured by state operatives, media houses are no longer taking chances.
Forewarned is forearmed, and Uganda’s top broadcasters are investing heavily in the safety of their field teams. In an unprecedented move, media institutions like Kin Kariisa’s Next Media Services are importing high-grade protective gear for their journalists ahead of the elections, widely expected to be more tense and volatile than previous ones.
Sources within Next Media confirm that the broadcaster has already begun clearing shipments of military-grade safety kits — full combat protective gear including bulletproof vests, riot helmets, gas masks, and tactical clothing. Our inside source reveals that each full set can cost upwards of UGX 5 million per staff member.
“Kin Kariisa will not let any of his reporters be injured while on duty,” a source close to the media mogul disclosed. “He witnessed what happened in Kawempe and other previous elections. He’s now making sure every field journalist is fully protected.”
The decision is not isolated. Other media houses are also making discreet arrangements to equip their teams through coordinated efforts with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which is facilitating access to this life-saving gear through its Secretariat in Naguru. Journalists and editors have been encouraged to liaise with NAB to obtain the necessary protective equipment ahead of what is projected to be a dangerous election season.
During the 2021 elections and other recent by-elections, multiple journalists were harassed, beaten, or tear-gassed while covering political events. These incidents, often caught on camera, drew both local and international condemnation. But with no concrete accountability, many media workers have grown increasingly fearful of covering frontline political developments.
Security analysts warn that the 2026 elections are likely to be even more contested, especially with rising political tensions, worsening economic conditions, and shrinking civic space.
Journalists — the very people tasked with telling the nation’s story — have become unintentional targets in the crossfire.
In response, the growing trend of media houses arming their reporters with tactical protection may signal a new chapter in Uganda’s press freedom battle — one where survival is part of the job description.
For now, the message from the media is loud and clear: We will cover the election. But we will not cover it unprotected.
(spy Uganda)