IFEX member HRNJ-Uganda's recent reporting on a violent attack on a journalist by Uganda's security agency warns of an escalating media crackdown.
Recent violent attacks on journalists in Uganda signal a broader issue – an escalating crackdown on press freedom and opposition voices in the country. Given the history of violence and intimidation against journalists and opposition leaders in previous election periods, this trend is particularly worrisome as Ugandans will be going to the polls in January 2026.
An attack on Ibrahim Miracle, a journalist working with Christian-based Top Television, took place on 26 February as he was covering the arrest and assault of Elias Nalukoola Luyimbazi, a candidate for the country’s largest opposition party. Eyewitnesses told HRNJ-Uganda that security operatives, specifically those from the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT), became enraged after some individuals at the scene began throwing stones. Miracle was taken to Nsambya Hospital after sustaining serious injuries. [Read HRNJ-Uganda’s article here]
Speaking with a delegation of press freedom advocates from the hospital, HRNJ-Uganda Executive Director Robert Ssempala emphasized that the government must take diligent steps to stop the “blatant abuse of journalists’ rights.” He noted that the incident is part of a troubling pattern; there have been three cases of assaults on journalists in February alone. The surge in attacks across the Central, Northern, and Western regions signal a bleak outlook for the safety and protection of journalists as January 2026 elections approach. Ssempala reiterated that HRNJ-Uganda would continue to advocate for the rights of journalists and demand accountability from the government. [Read HRNJ-Uganda’s article here]
