Uganda Journalists Association- UJA

07/08/2026

Once again, we have woken up to the disturbing news of the passing away of the Next Media staff Badru Kasirye and Isaac Ndamagye which occurred this Friday early morning after being involved into a road accident along Entebbe Road.They were together with their TV crew colleague Brian Ssemanda Makona, a renown entertainment media personality who seriously sustained bodily injuries. Latest information indicates that Makona is in the ICU.

Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends, media fraternity and Next Media family. May their souls Rest In Peace.

We also send our prayers to Makona wishing him quick recovery.

01/08/2026

TENTATIVE ROAD MAP FOR THE UGANDA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (UJA) ELECTIONS DURING
THE 2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM).

29/07/2026

|FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE|:

STATEMENT ON JUDICIARYS GUIDELINES BANNING THE USE OF ELECTRONIC- SMART MOBILE EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEOGRAPHY OF COURT PROCEEDINGS IN THE UGANDA Vs COL DR. KIIZA BESIGYE CASE TRIAL & OTHERS.

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) is concerned with the guidelines contained in the Judiciarys official statement dated July 29, 2026, imposing an instant ban against the use of mobile phones, tablets and any other related smart equipment by the Court covering journalists in the ongoing Court case of Uganda vs Dr. Kiiza Besigye and others in the High Court Criminal Division.

While the Judiciary justifies its decision as aimed at ensuring security, orderly proceedings and
continued public access to the hearing while preserving the integrity of the judicial process and the constitutional principle of open justice, it poses serious harms to the journalistic and media landscape in more ways than one.

First, the smart equipment including mobile phones and tablets in this day and age of technological evolution are essentially used by the journalists in carrying out timely on spot- research to principally observe accuracy as one of the professional requirements while reporting about the ongoing proceedings.

Secondly, they are highly relied upon in fast tracking the timely on-spot news story writing and compilation, timely update of online individual journalists news platforms, as well as digital news platforms for media organizations, photo shoots, audio recording-editing of the proceedings content, for purposes of observing the highest professional journalism standards and ethics.

Therefore, banning them is viewed as an attempt to frustrate the constitutionally and professionally laid out media duty of informing the citizens about decisions that affect their lives and their country.

Restricting photo shoots of the trial judge, witnesses, live broadcasts, as well as filming them inside the Courtroom raises serious concerns of censorship which undermines independence of the journalists.

28/07/2026

08/07/2026

https://youtu.be/aM__Iw8Jc0s

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07/07/2026

06/07/2026

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.

03/07/2026

Senior journalist Timothy Kalyegira has finally been released on bail following timelong detention.

Further hearing of his case has been scheduled for August 4th -next month. We wish to welcome him back from jail.

03/07/2026

We're keenly and closely following up the bail application for our detained senior colleague Timothy Kalyegira whose matter is before Kira Magistrate Court now.

Kalyegira had first gone missing recently for some days before he was produced before the same Court and remanded by the same Court to Luzira over the so-called Computer Misuse related charges.

Freedom of expression, speech and press is constitutional under Article 29, and therefore should never be criminalized.

It is our hope that Kalyegira will be let to be free again # Journalism is not a Crime!

29/06/2026

When the voice of the voiceless falls Silent: What the shutdown of Nation Media Group means

The strength of a democracy is often measured not by how loudly those in power speak, but by how freely those who question power are allowed to speak. On the morning of Sunday, June 28, 2026, Uganda awoke to reports that several platforms under the Nation Media Group (NMG) umbrellas including Daily....