Journalists under the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) have opposed the ban imposed by the judiciary against further use of the smart equipment including among others, mobile phones and tablets by the Court covering journalists in the ongoing Court case of Uganda vs Dr. Kiiza Besigye and others, which is before the High Court Criminal Division of Uganda.
Earlier in the day, the judiciary had released a set of the new guidelines contained in its official press release dated Wednesday July 29, 2026, saying they are 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.
The six issued guidelines included among others, restricted and banned inside courtroom photography and videography of the trial judge and witnesses, restrained use of communication gadgets such as mobile phones and tablets, restriction of the live broadcast, and submission of the journalists work gadgets (still and video cameras, audio recorders, laptops and any other relevant gadget) for screening by security every time they come to cover the proceedings.
However, UJA noted in the Wednesday July,29, statement signed by its secretary general Emmanuel Kirunda, that, the released guidelines pose 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”, reads in part the statement.
The statement additionally highlights that,” secondly, they are highly relied upon in fast tracking the timely on-spot news story writing and compilation, timely update of online individual journalist’s 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.
According to UJA, the imposed ban 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.
The Uganda Journalists Association further stated that 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 the media independence, and public right of accessing accurate information.
It is against that background, the journalists body called for an immediate lifting of the imposed ban and restrictions since they were seriously affecting the media -journalistic work.
UJA also presaged the need for an engagement with the judiciary in the interest of forging smooth working relationship.
“Going forward; UJA demands that the guidelines be reviewed to immediately lift the imposed ban and restrictions. UJA also seeks for an engagement with the Judiciary aimed at forging smooth working relationship”.
