Governments should leave journalists alone

Harassment of journalists in Uganda is yet to end after President Yoweri Museveni’s administration stepped up its persecution of media actors.

Journalists, opposition leaders and citizens were subjected to harassment and torture by Uganda’s security agencies during the election campaign period last month. The security personnel were deployed, ostensibly, to ensure compliance to Covid-19 containment measures. After the polls, Museveni was declared winner, but opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi has gone to court to challenge that declaration.