Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of journalists Eric Yiga of Salt Media and Ivan Kimbowa of Uganda Radio Network (URN), who they claim are currently being held at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS) over a story concerning the Education Officer for Mukono Municipal Council.
The two journalists were arrested on Saturday by operatives attached to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU) after being picked from Mukono and transferred to CPS in Kampala.
Their arrest has been linked to their reporting on alleged misconduct involving the Mukono District Education Office, a matter which UJA now says appears to be spiraling into an attack on press freedom.
In a statement issued on Sunday, July 20, 2025, UJA Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda condemned the continued detention of the journalists, describing it as a violation of their rights and a worrying signal for the state of press freedom in Uganda.
Kirunda said the association is closely following the matter and has instructed its legal team to explore avenues to secure the journalists’ release.
“The ongoing detention of these journalists is a serious concern to us as it poses an adverse effect on the press freedom landscape in this country,” Kirunda stated.
Background checks reveal that journalist Eric Yiga has previously been a victim of intimidation linked to his journalism work. In March 2025, Yiga was assaulted by Mukono District Veterinary Officer Dr. Fred Ssimbwa while covering a council dispute, leading him to file an assault case with police.
His latest detention now raises further concerns within media circles about the deliberate targeting of reporters who expose irregularities at district level.
Ivan Kimbowa, Yiga’s co-accused, was equally targeted because of his affiliation with URN, a news agency known for its investigative reporting on public accountability. Reports suggest the story they worked on pointed to alleged corruption and abuse of office within the Mukono education sector—a subject that has repeatedly sparked discomfort among local officials.
This is not the first time Ugandan journalists face harassment in the course of duty. In 2019, Yiga was among reporters assaulted by High Court Registrar Fred Waninda during proceedings at the Commercial Court. Although video evidence supported the journalists’ claims, a controversial ruling later ordered the journalists to compensate Waninda, a case still referenced by rights activists as a miscarriage of justice.
Human rights bodies, including the Uganda Journalists Network and the National Association of Broadcasters, argue that such arrests fuel a climate of fear among media practitioners and undermine the constitutional guarantees of press freedom.
Kirunda reminded authorities that Uganda’s Constitution upholds freedom of expression and the press. He questioned why state agencies like SHACU, initially created to fight corruption, are now being used to intimidate journalists instead of focusing on corrupt officials.
The Uganda Police has yet to issue a formal statement detailing the charges against the two journalists, raising further concerns about the legality of their continued detention.
UJA says it remains resolute in defending its members and has vowed to pursue all legal avenues to ensure that Yiga and Kimbowa regain their freedom. Kirunda urged the government to rein in rogue actors misusing state machinery to persecute the media.
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