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Writing About Ugandan Elections: Navigating Violence Against Journalists While Maintaining Reporting Standards
The Debunk Factchecking Show
The Debunk Factchecking Show

Writing About Ugandan Elections: Navigating Violence Against Journalists While Maintaining Reporting Standards

by
March 18, 2025

The brutal attacks on journalists covering the recent Kawempe North by-election in Uganda paint a disturbing picture of the challenges faced by media practitioners reporting on electoral processes in the country.

In the past two weeks alone, multiple journalists have been hospitalized, with some sustaining life-altering injuries, simply for documenting electoral events.

Next Media Journalist Canary Mugume faces off with Uganda security forces during the Kawempe North by electionPIN IT

 

Ibrahim Miracle of Top TV was beaten so severely on February 26th that he required multiple surgeries for facial injuries, including damage to the bones around his eye. Spark TV cameraman Steven Kibwiika was assaulted twice – first on March 12 while covering suspected pre-ticking of ballot papers, and again more brutally the following day. Several other journalists from Nation Media Group and NBS TV were beaten, detained, or remain missing after being targeted by security forces while covering polling stations.

These incidents highlight the dangerous reality facing those who report on Ugandan elections and underscore the need for comprehensive guidelines on how to approach such coverage safely and ethically.

Documenting the Pattern of Violence

The violence against journalists during the Kawempe North by-election follows a disturbing pattern that has become increasingly common in Ugandan electoral processes. On February 26, 2025, Ibrahim Miracle was covering the arrest of an opposition party nominee when masked officers from Uganda’s Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JAT) ordered him to stop filming. When he protested, an officer struck him in the face with a baton, knocking him into a ditch where he hit his head.  This attack left him hospitalized with severe facial injuries, including a crack in one of the orbital bones around his eye.

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Just days later, on March 12, Steven Kibwiika was assaulted by armed men while covering suspected ballot pre-ticking in Nammere, Kawempe Division. Found crawling on the ground in distress, he was evacuated to a hospital by the security detail of the Leader of the Opposition. The following day, Kibwiika was beaten again, this time more severely, when he returned to investigate a tip about pre-ticked ballots.

The violence escalated further on March 13, with multiple journalists targeted at Kazo Angola polling station. Nation Media Group journalist Hasifah Nanvuma recounted being attacked by UPDF soldiers who beat her with sticks and damaged her camera, forcing her to hide in a toilet for safety. Three other NMG journalists Abubaker Lubowa, Raymond Tamale, and Dennis Kabugo were violently arrested. NBS TV journalists Francis Isaano and Hakim Wampamba were also detained. 

Institutional Response to the Violence

The attacks have drawn widespread condemnation from various quarters. In Parliament, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa questioned what could “provoke you to beat a journalist” after viewing footage of Ibrahim Miracle’s assault. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) released a statement warning that such attacks threaten press freedom and democracy in Uganda. Nation Media Group took the extraordinary step of temporarily withdrawing its journalists from covering the by-election to ensure their safety.

Despite these condemnations, the response from security agencies has been lacklustre. While Uganda’s trade minister, David Bahati, promised the government would investigate Ibrahim Miracle’s assault, and the police claimed to be awaiting the victim’s statement, there is little evidence of meaningful action. Daniel Kalinaki of Nation Media Group noted that representations to senior security officials typically lead to “half-hearted apologies and promises of ‘never again'” that remain unfulfilled. Most troublingly, Ofwono Opondo, the Government Executive Director for Media, appeared to troll the assaulted journalists, suggesting that “arrogance to a law enforcement officer whose instructions you don’t know isn’t a good thing” and implying that journalists don’t enjoy special protections.

Safety Considerations for Covering Ugandan Elections

Reporting on Ugandan elections requires a thorough understanding of the complex security landscape. While the Electoral Commission is responsible for organizing elections, as Justice Simon Byabakama noted, it is not responsible for maintaining law and order. That duty falls to the police, but in practice, multiple security agencies operate during elections with unclear mandates and chains of command.

The Joint Anti-Terrorist Task Force (JAT), whose primary mandate is counter-terrorism, has become increasingly involved in election security operations. JAT officers, who often operate masked and without clear identification, have been implicated in some of the most severe attacks on journalists. Additionally, UPDF soldiers and unidentified armed men in civilian clothes have participated in the crackdown on media personnel. This security environment has transformed election coverage into what Daniel Kalinaki describes as “military operations” for media houses, requiring bulletproof vests, helmets, documentation of blood groups, knowledge of evacuation routes, and reserve teams ready to deploy if primary teams are detained or injured.

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Practical Safety Protocols

Given these challenges, journalists covering Ugandan elections must adopt comprehensive safety protocols:

  • First, work in teams whenever possible, with clear check-in procedures and emergency contacts established beforehand. Have a designated editor or safety coordinator aware of your location at all times. Journalists should carry proper press identification but be prepared to remove press vests and equipment quickly if targeted, as Hasifah Nanvuma did when hiding in a toilet to escape her attackers.
  • Second, maintain awareness of potential flashpoints, particularly polling stations where opposition candidates have strong support or where allegations of electoral malpractice have emerged. Pre-planning should include identifying safe buildings, medical facilities, and evacuation routes in coverage areas.
  • Third, use technology strategically, recognizing that authorities may confiscate equipment or force the deletion of footage. Cloud backup solutions that automatically upload footage can prevent the loss of critical evidence. Some media houses now use multiple camera operators for important events; one obvious and one discreet to increase the chances of preserving documentation if one is targeted.

Ethical Reporting in High-Risk Environments

The violence against journalists creates a difficult ethical dilemma: how to fulfil the vital role of an electoral watchdog without endangering oneself or others. As Daniel Kalinaki notes, “Not sending journalists to witness abuses of power or electoral fraud is exactly what the violence is meant to achieve”. Yet media organizations have a duty of care to their staff. This tension requires thoughtful strategies that balance safety and journalistic responsibility. 

Nation Media Group’s temporary withdrawal of journalists from the Kawempe North by-election coverage represents one approach—prioritizing immediate safety while publicly highlighting the assault on press freedom. An alternative strategy involves rotating journalists through high-risk assignments to minimize individual exposure while maintaining coverage.

Another approach involves broadening the definition of who does journalism. As Kalinaki observes, “Technology has lowered the entry barrier into the field of capturing the rough first draft of history and given ordinary citizens the tools and platforms to report what they see”. Supporting citizen journalists with training and platforms can help maintain information flow even when professional journalists are targeted.

Documenting Security Force Actions

When reporting on security force actions during elections, journalists must be particularly careful. Documentation should be precise and factual, avoiding inflammatory language while still accurately portraying events. When security forces commit violence, reporting should include efforts to identify the specific units involved and command structures rather than making generalized accusations against all security personnel.

Where possible, obtain official responses from police spokespersons, military representatives, and electoral officials. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire’s response regarding Ibrahim Miracle’s case that police were “aware of the incident and waiting to record the victim’s statement” provides important context about the official position, even if it appears inadequate.

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