UgandaToday: ULS Vice President Condemns Brutal Assault on BBS Terefayina Journalist Ivan Mbaadhi, Demands Accountability
Kampala, Uganda — The Uganda Law Society (ULS) Vice President has strongly condemned the mauling, molestation and violent assault of a journalist attached to BBS Terefayina Television, describing the incident as a grave violation of constitutional rights, press freedom, and the rule of law.
In a strongly worded statement issued by the ULS Vice President, the national lawyers’ body expressed deep concern over the growing pattern of attacks against journalists, particularly those covering politically sensitive events during the ongoing election period. The assault on the BBS Terefayina journalist, the statement notes, is not an isolated incident but part of a worrying escalation of violence against media practitioners in Uganda
.According to the statement, Ivan Mbaadhi was on lawful duty, carrying out constitutionally protected work when he was allegedly physically assaulted, molested, and humiliated by armed security operatives. ULS describes the attack as unjustified, unlawful, and incompatible with professional policing and military standards.
Statement on assault of a journalist (1)
Violation of Constitutional and Legal Guarantees
The ULS Vice President underscores that the assault directly contravenes Article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda, which guarantees freedom of expression and the media, as well as Article 24, which protects every person from cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
The statement further reminds security agencies that journalists are civilians protected under both domestic law and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Uganda is a signatory.
ULS warns that impunity for such acts undermines public confidence in state institutions and erodes Uganda’s democratic credentials, especially at a time when the country is under heightened domestic and international scrutiny ahead of the 2026 general elections
.Call for Investigations and Prosecution
The Vice President’s statement calls for immediate, independent, and transparent investigations into the assault, demanding that all officers involved be identified, disciplined, and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
ULS also urges the Inspector General of Police, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) leadership, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to act decisively, stressing that public assurances of professionalism by security leaders must be matched by concrete action.
“The safety of journalists is non-negotiable in a constitutional democracy,” the statement emphasizes, warning that continued attacks on the media risk normalizing lawlessness and state-sanctioned violence against civilians performing public-interest duties
.Media Freedom Under Siege
The assault on the BBS Terefayina journalist comes amid rising reports of harassment, beatings, and obstruction of journalists, particularly those covering opposition activities and public order operations. Media rights advocates fear that such actions are creating a climate of fear and self-censorship, fundamentally weakening the public’s right to information.
ULS reaffirmed its solidarity with journalists across the country and pledged to pursue all lawful avenues to ensure accountability and protection for media workers.
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