Journalists umbrella organization the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has decried acts of impunity against journalists by the KCCA staff, leaving some media practitioners permanently impaired.
UJA secretary general Emmanuel Kirunda cited in the leaked association’s strong worded complaint to the KCCA chief executive Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, adamancy by the institution to reprimand some of its staff under the Enforcement department named in flawed law enforcement operations, one of them being aiding some evicted vendors to return their illegal trade on streets.
The said staff notably, one Kabiito and Ibra are sharply accused of occasioning torture on NBS TV camera operator Siraje Kiberu as he documented their dealings, according to the complaint seen by this news Website dated Friday March, 6, 2026, and received by the KCCA teams on 10th March 2026.
“This attack according to the victim, was occasioned on him on Wednesday March 4, 2026, in Kampala downtown around Kikuubo-Namirembe road at around 6:00 pm as he documented vendors who had returned to trade along the said road allegedly under the protection of some KCCA Enforcement officers, in following up a news report (story) regarding the same”, UJA complaint reads in part.
The complaint goes on to state that” As he documented the developments through filming as a TV camera person, he was instead attacked and badly assaulted by the three KCCA officers, leaving him with serious bodily harms. Two of the three officers were draped in uniforms of KCCA Enforcement team only identified as one Kabiito and Ibra. The third person who was with them according to Kiberu, was in plain cloth whose identity remains unknown”.
UJA’s complaint which was filed on behalf of the victim shows that they had learnt from Kiberu that before this barbaric attack on him, he had a health complication of sinus, destined for an operation. Since he was attacked, his health deteriorated with severe head que, pain in jaws and other parts of the body.
“Our team had also learnt from him that his camera no longer functions well since it was hit by the KCCA staff that aimed to confiscate it from him during the cruel attack on him”.
The Uganda Journalists Association noted that such act by the said KCCA staff is criminal and blatantly violate Press Freedom under Articles 29(1) a, 41 and 40(2) of the Constitution, before stressing that It equally speaks to the growing acts of impunity against journalists which must not be condoned.
“It is therefore on this premise that the Uganda Journalists Association files this complaint on Kiberu’s behalf and in the interest of advocacy for Press Freedom being one of our core duties, praying that swift action be taken by your office that justice may be served for himself and the whole journalism fraternity, considering the magnitude of damage and pain that he suffered arising from such criminal assault by your staff.”
The Complaint ended by stating that the freedom of the press is not negotiable, reaffirming the association’s unwavering commitment to defending Press Freedom, promoting ethical journalism, and holding duty bearers accountable.
“We shall not stand by as public officials attempt to erode the hard-won freedoms of the Ugandan media”.
The journalist’s formal complaint to the KCCA boss comes at the time when the claims of corruption, transactional law enforcement and acts of impunity among the Enforcement staff gains intensity in the news media space.
