The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) strongly condemns in the harshest terms the reported action by the Police Officers at Kashensheero Police Station in Mitooma District, of unleashing acts of torture on journalists Hillary Twinamatsiko -correspondent with Nation Media Group (NMG) and Sympathy Magezi with Voice of Ruhinda on Monday 15 June 2026, while in line of duty.
UJA has information that the two journalists were blocked by the Police Officers moving on a patrol that followed them up relying upon informers, from their scheduled field news interviews. They were eventually driven to Kashensheero Police Station where they were detained between 3:00 pm -6: 00 pm.
While in Police detention at the Station, Twinamatsiko was allegedly subjected to the acts of torture in form of harsh beating, knocking against the wall, neck strangulation, nose squeezing, stomach punching, head hitting, etc, by some Police Constables there, lasting for about 30 minutes, hence leaving him in serious pain with sustained bodily injuries on one of his eyes. Following this incident, Twinamatsiko sought medical attention at Kampala International Teaching Hospital.
This act blatantly violates the constitutional right to freedom of the press and access to information as enshrined under Articles 29(1)(a) and 41 of the Ugandas Constitution.
Kashensheero Police Officers, are public officers funded by taxpayers, and therefore must remain open to scrutiny by the media without intimidation. UJA views their actions as a deliberate attempt to silence independent journalism, but also to shield their reported absenteeism conduct from public accountability. Such actions undermine principles of good governance that the Ugandan State is duty-bound to uphold.
Emmanueal Kirunda
UJA Secretary General
