Five other journalists were also evicted from the tally center. UPDF and police officers were seen blocking journalists from conducting interviews near the tally center. Some television journalists were also tasked to delete the footage they had recorded in exchange for their freedom.
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Richard Mutoigo, file photo.
Baba FM journalist, Richard Mutoigo has
been arrested for broadcasting events outside the Tally center at Jinja senior
secondary school. He was picked up a joint team of Uganda Peoples’ Defense
Forces- UPDF and plain-clothed security personnel this afternoon.
Mutoigo, who was whisked away in an unidentified black saloon car, was relaying the
events outside the tally center. Police are yet to communicate Mutoigo’s
whereabouts. The Kiira Region Police Spokesperson, Abbey Ngako says the suspect
was spreading news items aimed at inciting violence.
Five other journalists were also evicted
from the tally center. UPDF and police officers were seen blocking journalists
from conducting interviews near the tally center. Some television journalists
were also tasked to delete the footage they had recorded in exchange for their
freedom.
Ramadhan Ssenyonga, a journalist working
with BabaTV says a UPDF soldier blocked him from interviewing candidates and
directed him to delete the footage he had earlier on recorded or risk
arrest. Ahmed Hasunira, the commandant of Jinja
Central Police Station has directed journalists to desist from interviewing
candidates, arguing that their messages contain false propaganda aimed at
inciting masses to riot.
Mutoigo becomes the second journalists
to be arrested in connection to the live broadcast of the local government
elections. On Wednesday, Charles
Kyalisiima, a reporter attached to the Masindi based Radio Kitara was picked up for
reporting live the district council elections.
Kyalisiima was broadcasting an incident where the Agents of Cosmas Byaruhanga,
one of the candidates for the Masindi LC V Chairperson seat were accusing the
agents of his rival, Wilson Isingoma Mugimba of conniving with recruits from
Kabalye police training school to rig in his favour.
The agents accused the police recruits of voting at Kabalye polling station yet
they are not registered voters in the area. The officers confiscated
Kyalisiima’s equipment a mobile phone and recorder that he was using to report
the event. Annet Najjemba, the Programs Director at Radio Kitara told Uganda
Radio Network that the reporter was later set free after thorough questioning
by security officers.
