News
FCAU photojournalist alleges beating by police
published on 21.07.2012 by admin
The Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda strongly condemns the alleged beating on wednesday by police of one if its members.
Edward Echwalu, a freelance photojournalist who works for Reuters and The Observer, says he was beaten by four police officers, using batons and a rifle butt, outside the Kira Road Police Station at approximately 4:40pm on Wednesday March 21st.
Echwalu says he was at the site covering the day’s events as part of his work and clearly indicated to the four policemen that he was a journalist. He also says he was carrying a camera, which was clearly visible to the police. Echwalu also says he tried to report the incident at the police station immediately afterwards, but police did not allow him to go inside.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda stresses the importance of its members ability to carry out their work free of intimidation and physical violence.
We also wish to express condolences to the family and friends of the police officer, who the Government says was killed by protesters elsewhere in Kampala earlier Wednesday.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU) is an organisation of journalists working in Uganda for foreign and international news-media.
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