The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has dismissed claims that the JATT Commandos, who brutalized journalists and voters during the Kawempe North by-election, are under his authority. His comments followed the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) decision to boycott coverage of the Uganda Police Force.
UPPA reached this decision after Minister Kahinda Otafiire declined to apologize for the violence directed at journalists during the Kawempe by-elections, stating that when someone reaches Jesus, they don’t require a Bishop to intercede for them. He argued that President Museveni had already addressed the issue, implying that he, as a bishop, had nothing more to contribute.
This development followed a request from Hon Lutamaguzi Ssemakula (Nakaseke South), who urged the Minister to offer an apology to journalists in Uganda for the violence and kidnappings endured by some members of the press. Otafiire refuted the demand, explaining that he was in Zimbabwe during the chaos of the Kawempe by-elections.
“There will be a statement before Parliament. Whatever your legitimate demands, let’s aggregate them in that statement, which will come before Parliament. And, like I told you, I wasn’t here. The Minister of State made a statement, which was successful. And from what he said, he said there is a way we will operate. We are in charge of the police. Him and I are in charge of the police. We are not responsible for the activities of the goons,” Otafiire remarked.
In response to Otafiire’s comments, Sam Ibanda Mugabi, President of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association, justified the decision by parliamentary journalists to enforce a media blackout on all security agencies until the government guarantees the safety of journalists and ensures that the brutality experienced during the Kawempe by-elections does not happen again in Uganda.
Additionally, following Kahinda Otafiire’s statement that he is not responsible for the individuals who assaulted Ugandans during the Kawempe by-elections, James Kaberuka (Kinkizi West) escalated his calls for Parliament to investigate the identities of the masked assailants who beat, injured, and abused Ugandans during the by-elections.
