Journalists under their umbrella organization the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), have written to the Chief Justice (CJ) also the head of the judiciary Flavian Zeija, seeking for a constructive engagement with his led teams’ administration regarding the continued imposing of the bans and restrictions by courts against free journalistic practices during court proceedings.
Through the August Thursday 27, 2026 leaked letter addressed to him by the UJA secretary general Emmanuel Kirunda copying in the chief inspector of courts, chief registrar of the high court and the principal judge, journalists raised concerns of un fettered restrictive directives and policies by courts during proceedings.
According to the two pager UJA’s letter which Blazer News Times has seen, Kirunda highlighted restrictions imposed on court reporting journalists, explaining they were seriously impacting their work. “The first set of restrictions was in the guidelines contained in the Judiciary’s official statement dated July 29, 2026. They imposed 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 before the High Court Criminal Division”, His letter reads in part.
UJA avers that, “on Tuesday, 18 August, 2026, another set of restrictions was brought to the attention of the journalists covering the ongoing case of Uganda vs Dr. Kiiza Besigye and others, and because of this, many of them hardly performed their noble duty that day due to the tightened imposed restrictions.
The letter goes on to state that “on Wednesday, 19, August, 2026, the Uganda Journalists Association’s (UJA) teams including lawyers could not easily access one of the Buganda Road court rooms where jailed journalist Remy Asiteza had been scheduled to stand trial on slapped charges by the State, to properly present to him the requisite support, and lawyers to represent him, due to reasons that were known to the honorable court”.
UJA further states that “on Tuesday 25, August, 2026, the Butambala Chief Magistrate’s court presided over by HW Aminah Wahab issued a directive barring live media broadcasts and streaming of the ongoing incitement violence case against the former Butambala MP Mohammed Muwanga Kivumbi, that in the interest of protecting the integrity of the trial”, among other concerns.
It is against that background the journalist’s body requested for a constructive engagement with the Judiciary aimed at forging smooth working relationship, considering that the imposed restrictions would be 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.
However, the CJ Zeija through his leaked September 2, 2026 reply letter to the UJA secretary general Emmanuel Kirunda, defended the disputed restrictions, saying it was within the court’s powers.
“I wish to point out that all persons, institutions and organs of government have a duty to balance all constitutional imperatives. This duty applies to everyone, including those doing journalistic and press related work both inside and outside court proceedings.”
Zeija noted that the responsibility to ensure that all constitutional imperatives are met during court proceedings rests with the trial court which must consider the special circumstances of each case.
The Chief Justice allowed to engage with UJA over the raised concerns, delegating the chief registrar to champion it on his behalf, although he did not clearly indicate when exactly this could be held.
“I have delegated the chief registrar to meet with you to discuss and streamline the requirements and standards for court’s reporting in according with the law”.
The Chief Justice’s failure to clearly indicate when the engagement would be held with journalists has been interpreted as lack of commitment on part of the judiciary to address the matter which they say poses serious harms to the journalistic and media landscape in more ways than one.
