KAMPALA, Uganda | The High Court of Uganda has found the government liable for the brutal assault of two journalists by military officers, awarding them UGX 75 million each in compensation. The case, filed by the Uganda Journalists Association alongside the two victims, Timothy Murungi and Henry Sekanjako, highlighted severe breaches of press freedom and human rights.

The assault occurred on February 17, 2021, when Murungi and Sekanjako were covering a petition presented by Robert Kyagulanyi, a former presidential candidate, to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Kampala. As the journalists waited at a roadblock set up by the police, a military patrol vehicle arrived, and UPDF officers, led by Lt. Col. Namanya Napoleone, jumped out and began attacking the gathered media personnel.

Murungi, a senior photo editor at The New Vision, was struck on the head with a baton, causing severe bleeding and injuries that required immediate medical attention. Sekanjako, also a journalist with The New Vision, suffered injuries to his hand and back after being hit repeatedly. Both journalists reported ongoing physical pain and psychological trauma from the incident.

In a ruling delivered on November 13, 2024, Justice Boniface Wamala ruled in favor of the journalists, finding that the actions of the UPDF officers amounted to torture and degrading treatment, in violation of Articles 24 and 44 of the Constitution. He also found that the assault infringed upon the journalists’ rights to freedom of speech and press under Article 29.

“The evidence clearly shows that the applicants were targeted while performing their lawful duties as journalists,” Justice Wamala stated. He pointed to photographs and medical reports submitted by the journalists as compelling proof of the injuries sustained. The defense’s arguments, suggesting the absence of systematic targeting of journalists, were dismissed by the court.

The court ordered that each journalist receive UGX 75 million (approximately USD 20,000) as general damages for the physical and emotional harm they suffered. The judge emphasized that this compensation was meant to acknowledge the serious impact of the assault and to deter future violations by state agents.

The court held the Attorney General, representing the government, vicariously liable for the actions of the military officers. However, the case against the Chief of Defence Forces was dismissed due to insufficient evidence linking the office directly to the incident.

For Murungi and Sekanjako, the ruling provides a measure of justice and a reaffirmation of their rights as journalists. It serves as a reminder that the press plays a vital role in a democratic society, and its protection is paramount to upholding the freedoms enshrined in Uganda’s Constitution.