News
May 27, 2013
Closure of independent media outlets
KAMPALA – The Foreign Correspondents‘ Association of Uganda (FCAU) is extremely concerned by the closure of independent Ugandan media outlets by armed police officers. One week ago the Uganda Police shut down three newspapers – the Daily Monitor, Red Pepper and Kamunye – and forced radio stations KFM and Dembe off the air. They are yet to reopen. FCAU strongly condemns any in-fringement on the freedom of the press.
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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October 8, 2012
Uganda Press Photo Award 2012
KAMPALA – The prestigious Uganda Press Photo Award 2012 has been won by freelance photojournalist Daniel Edyegu. He took the place of First Overall Winner with a striking image of a woman throwing herself on the ground in tears, overlooking the site of a mudslide where her loved ones had been buried alive in Bududa, Eastern Uganda.
A delighted Edyegu said, “I’m a passionate photographer, and now that I’ve won the award it will inspire me to do more. Photos are my way of conveying a message to the people.”
Edyegu remarkably also scooped up the award for Second Overall Winner, astounding the judges with another breathtaking image of a wheelchair user racing over the finish line of a marathon for people with disabilities held in Lira, Northern Uganda.
The victorious photojournalist won a brand new Nikon camera and a scholarship to study a degree in Mass Communications at Victoria University, one of the competition sponsors. His victory was announced at a glamorous ceremony held on Thursday evening at Makerere University Art Gallery in Kampala, where all the winning photographs are now being exhibited. Edyegu’s winning photograph was previously published in the New Vision Newspaper.
Photojournalist Simon Naulele was awarded the place of Third Overall Winner for a dramatic image of a woman grabbing onto a policeman’s leg, as he lashes out with a stick a crowd of music fans at a concert in Soroti, Eastern Uganda. Naulele was presented with an Apple iPad, donated by the US Mission in Uganda, at the exclusive prize-giving event. He works for the Etop vernacular newspaper in Eastern Uganda.
October 4, 2012
Journalist Alleges Assault by Police
KAMPALA – The Foreign Correspondents‘ Association of Uganda (FCAU) expresses grave concern over allegations that two police officers assaulted one of its members in Kampala on Thursday 4th October 2012, outside Kampala Central Police Station.
Isaac Kasamani, a freelance photojournalist who works for Agence France Presse (AFP) and the Daily Monitor, says he was covering the detention of opposition leader Kizze Besigye when a police officer instructed him to stop taking photographs. Kasamani claims the officer slapped him and a second police officer threw him on the ground, destroying his camera.
Kasamani adds that he spoke to the Commander of Kampala Metropolitan Police, Andrew Kaweesi, immediately after the incident and that Kaweesi assured him that the destroyed camera would be replaced.
FCAU urges the Uganda Police Force to take the incident seriously and investigate. FCAU welcomes the replacement of equipment destroyed as a result of its officers’ actions, but also stresses the importance of disciplinary measures against officers found responsible. This can make it clear to all security operatives that violence against journalists is not tolerated.
Previous incidents of alleged violence against FCAU members have not resulted in any such action.
August 9, 2012
The Uganda Press Photo Award 2012
Kampala – Ugandan photojournalists can win brand new Nikon camera, a scholarship to study a journalism degree at Victoria University, an Apple iPad, and a chance to have their work exhibited in Kampala, in the first ever Uganda Press Photo Award.
The organisers, the Foreign Correspondents Association of Uganda, have announced the Award open for en-tries. The Award is open to Ugandan photographers and photojournalists 18 years of age or above, and is pro-duced in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Victoria University, US Mission in Uganda, Tangerine, and Definition.
“There’s already a lot of excitement amongst Uganda’s community of photojournalists, and we’re receiving more entries every week,” said Michele Sibiloni, one of the organisers, and a photojournalist working for The New York Times and AFP. “The judges are really looking forward to seeing all the best images taken in Uganda over the last year.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Kampala later in 2012. All the winning photographs will be exhibited later in 2012 at Victoria University and Makerere University Art Gallery.
July 21, 2012
FCAU photojournalist alleges beating by police
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.