Three journalists who had been detained by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) at the General Court Martial in Makindye have been released following intervention by the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and pressure from fellow journalists.
The journalists are Margaret Zalwango of Vision Group, Judith Kukunda of Uganda Radio Network (URN), and Christine Nabatanzi, who had been detained while covering proceedings at the military court.
In an update issued on Monday evening, the Uganda Journalists Association confirmed that the three reporters had regained their freedom after engagements with UPDF authorities and sustained advocacy by members of the media fraternity.
“The journalists have finally been released by the UPDF personnel following an intervention by the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) and pressure exerted by the journalists,” the association said.
UJA thanked journalists and media stakeholders who rallied in support of their colleagues, reiterating that any attack on a journalist undermines press freedom and the public’s right to information.
“An attack on one journalist is an attack on all. Together we can enhance our safety. Journalism is not a crime,” the association stated.
The release follows the earlier detention of the journalists at Makindye Army Barracks while they were covering proceedings related to the scheduled trial of Gen. Birungi.
UJA had earlier condemned the arrests and demanded their immediate and unconditional release, describing the detention as a violation of constitutional protections for media freedom.
It was not immediately clear whether the journalists’ confiscated work equipment had been returned by the time of their release.
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