Monday July 6,2026.
The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) is disturbed by the detention of journalists Judith Kukunda with URN, Nabatanzi Christine with Radio Simba and Magret Zalwango with Vision Group by the Uganda Military.
The information from our teams on the ground indicate the two journalists detained on allegations of accessing the Court Martial without clearance, on orders of Major Echeru who is the OC Prisons Makindye Military Barracks.
They were closely following up the scheduled trial of Gen Birungi Court story, and Maj Echeru was escorting Gen. Birungi when they were arrested and detained.
Their work gadgets including among others; phones , cameras were all removed from them.
UJA has information that the detainees will instead be taken to the Special Investigations Bureau of the UPDF shortly following the incident.
Journalism as a profession is lawful under Articles 29 ,42(2) and 41 of the 1995 Constitution, and therefore, journalists shouldn’t be harassed and treated as criminals.
In the interim we demand for urgent un conditional release of journalists Kukunda, Nabatanzi and Zalwango and return of their work tools.
