FOUR JOURNALISTS SURVIVE BEING SHOT BY UPDF SOLDIERS WHILE COVERING BUGOMA FOREST TAKE OVER

By Our reporter

www.mknewslink.com

In Kikuube

Four journalists have this afternoon 22^nd Oct.2020 survived being shot by the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces while covering news around the areas of Bugoma forest that is being cleared for Sugarcane growing.

The journalists had responded to allegations that over 200 men had been taken to Bugoma forest at different points of Nyairongo village with bush clearing tools including power saws, axes, hoes and machetes.

Mr Gad Asaba, a freelance journalist with Kazi-njema News has not managed to escape an arrest by the soldiers.

Others are Mr Ambrose Niwagaba Katoto, a correspondent of TV West in Hoima, Mr Godfrey Muhumuza, a correspondent of BBS TV and Mr Andrew Kaahwa of Spice FM.

The incident occurred at Rwembaaho Village in Kabwoya Sub-county, Kikuube District at around a half past mid-day.

Mr Muhumuza narrated to this website that the journalists had started shooting videos of banana plantations destroyed by huge trees being cut down by unknown persons around the disputed area of Bugoma central forest reserve when he became nervous after hearing mixed voices in English and Kiswahili commanding for the shoot-out against the journalists.

He had heard sounds of power saws and multitudes of people inside the forest to where the journalists were heading.

Mr Muhumuza said the journalists rushed to save their life but Mr Asaba a freelance journalist with Kazi-njema News was arrested.

His mobile telephone went off some minutes after the incident.

On September 14, 2020, two journalists;   Venex Watebawa and   Joshua Mutale of Water and Environment Media Network (WEMNET) were detained for two days at Hoima Central Police Station on allegation of masterminding a plan to conduct unlawful protests against the giveaway of Bugoma central forest reserve for sugarcane growing.

These were later released on police bond to which they remain subject.

Other four journalists were also detained for some hours on allegations of photographing their colleagues who were in the police cells.