Members of Parliament have demanded that action be taken against security personnel who attacked and injured Top TV journalist, Ibrahim Miracle, who was covering the nomination of candidates for the Kawempe North by-election on Wednesday, 26 February 2025.
The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, raised the matter in Parliament, saying that the journalist was assaulted by individuals believed to be members of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT).
“His eye was shattered, and bones around his face were broken. Doctors are uncertain whether he will regain his vision,” Ssenyonyi said on Thursday, 27 February 2025.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, condemned the attack, describing it as “very unfortunate.” She directed the Minister of State for Trade, Hon. David Bahati, to investigate and provide a report on the incident.
“No one is above the law. We must establish who was responsible for this brutality and ensure they are held accountable,” she said.
Hon. Charles Onen (Ind., Laroo-Pece Division, Gulu) decried the increasing attacks on journalists, urging leaders to uphold the rule of law.
“Uganda is bleeding. Instead of acknowledging wrongs, we justify them. It is time to defend human rights and stop the culture of impunity,” he said.
Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju (FDC, Kira Municipality, Wakiso) reiterated the challenge of deployment of JATT to deal with issues of elections which is not terrorism.
“Since when did elections become terrorism that you must deploy JATT? The Leader of Opposition singled out the journalist, but the biggest issue is deploying JATT to deal with elections, that is what you must answer as government,” he said.
On behalf of government, the Minister of State for Trade Industries and Cooperatives (Industries), David Bahati, pledged that the government would follow up on the matter.
“Security agencies are meant to protect citizens, not harm them. We will visit the journalist and take necessary action,” he said.
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