Masaka, Uganda — Journalists in Masaka are facing increasing threats and online harassment following allegations amplified by National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters and later echoed by party president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) linking them to the arrest and detention of his bodyguards.
The claims stem from an incident in May 2024 during the burial of UK-based businessman Pascal Ssekasamba in Lwengo District, where a scuffle reportedly broke out between Kyagulanyi’s private security and journalists.
Zainabu Namusaazi (Next Media) and Margaret Kayondo (Radio Simba) reported damaged equipment during the fracas.
Since then, online NUP supporters have circulated names, photos, and contact details of several journalists, accusing them of colluding in the arrest of Kyagulanyi’s bodyguards claims that remain unverified.
Journalists named include Gertrude Mutyaba (Nation Media) and Farish Magembe (Next Media), both of whom have since become targets of harassment.
In an interview on Tuesday morning, Mutyaba expressed deep concern for her safety and that of her family.
“I wouldn’t mind about them, since I know I have never caused a single arrest of any person,” she said. “But my family members are more worried about what is happening on social media and have already concluded that it may put my life in danger for nothing.”
Tensions escalated further after Kyagulanyi, during a Tuesday public address livestreamed across social media, named journalists he claimed were behind the arrests.
Though he singled out Mutyaba and others, investigations by this outlet confirm that neither Mutyaba nor Magembe appear on the official charge sheet.
In the same address, Kyagulanyi praised Magembe for retracting a previous statement that had seemingly implicated the bodyguards, remarks he made during International Journalism Day celebrations.
The Greater Masaka media fraternity has condemned the online attacks and called on the NUP leadership to clarify the roles of the accused journalists.
They urge the party to distinguish between verified facts and harmful speculation.
As of press time, attempts to obtain a formal response from the NUP leadership had not been successful.
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