Uganda: Surviving on the frontlines – Ugandan journalists fight for their freedom

Tomorrow the world celebrates World Press Freedom Day, a day to recognize the courage and dedication of journalists who provide us with vital information. But for many Ugandan journalists, this day serves as a stark reminder of the dangers they face in their daily work.

This is my story.

It was November 18, 2020, during the riots that broke out after the arrest of opposition leader Bobi Wine. My cameraman and I were returning from an interview in Kawempe, a suburb of Kampala. We witnessed the city in chaos: burning tires, blocked roads and an atmosphere of fear.

Desperate to avoid the main roads, we took a detour along the Kawempe-Nabweru road. A terrible mistake. We encountered roadblocks manned by rioters trying to loot. Here, for the first time, I longed for the presence of the police, a symbol of order that was nowhere to be seen.

Fearing for our lives, we sped through roadblocks, dodging stones and sticks thrown by the mob. Just when we thought we had made it clear, we came across a group carrying Bobi Wine signs and big sticks. This wasn’t a scene I ever thought I’d film: myself at the center of it.

They recognized our car as belonging to a local television station. We were surrounded. Panic overwhelmed me. A man, carrying a menacingly large rock, demanded that we leave. My cameraman, always brave, tried to explain that we were journalists, he even erased a Bobi Wine poster as they demanded.

They pulled me out of the car by my neck, accusing us of working for a pro-government station. We were accused of working for a television station owned by SK Mbuga, a well-known tycoon who is a strong supporter of the government.

Mbuga had recently made headlines with media comments accusing opposition leader Bobi Wine of wanting to destabilize Uganda and cause unrest similar to those in Libya.

This accusation, together with our affiliation with the Mbuga television station, fueled suspicion and hostility towards us. Just when all hope seemed lost, another man stepped in and recognized us as journalists.

He managed to negotiate our release, but not before the rear windshield of our car was smashed.

The trip back to our office seemed like an eternity. The traffic rules were non-existent, fears our only passenger. My car, battered and bruised, reflected my own emotional state.

Later that day, on my way home, I encountered another incident: a colleague who witnessed the brutal shooting of a journalist by LDU (Local Defense Unit) personnel. We couldn’t help.

That night we arrived home under a blanket of silence, the media censored, the truth suppressed.

That day exposed a harsh reality: Ugandans often lack a full understanding of the role of the media. We are caught in the crossfire, without respect from the public and sometimes even from our employers. But the biggest challenge is the lack of true press freedom in Uganda. Journalists critical of the government face harassment, intimidation and even violence.

The legal system often fails to protect us and cases of rights violations against journalists are rarely investigated or prosecuted.

Additionally, low wages are pervasive in the industry. Many journalists struggle to make ends meet, forced to choose between financial security and reporting investigative stories that can anger powerful figures. This economic vulnerability makes us even more susceptible to pressure and self-censorship.

World Press Freedom Day is a day to celebrate our resilience, but it is also a call to action. Uganda needs a media environment where journalists can work freely and safely, without fear of reprisals. It is a call on the government to respect its constitutional guarantee of press freedom, investigate attacks on journalists and hold perpetrators accountable.

It is a call for media companies to prioritize the safety and well-being of their employees and offer fair compensation. Finally, it is a call for the Ugandan public to understand and appreciate the vital role that journalists play in a healthy democracy.

We may not always be greeted with gratitude, but the search for truth drives us forward. We will continue to inform, hold power accountable and close the gap between the public and their right to information.