BY RWENZORI DAILY
KASESE, AUG 24, 2022 – In a shocking turn of events, Ronald Thabugha, a dedicated member of Uganda’s National Unity Platform (NUP), has been discovered dumped in Kikonzo Cell, Railyway Ward in Kasese Municipality, one week after a brutal arrest during the Busongora Parliamentary by-election on August 18, 2022. Thabugha, who served as a polling agent for NUP, found himself targeted by both Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UDF) officers and Uganda Police after attempting to expose election fraud.
The incident unfolded when Thabugha uncovered NRM agents pre-ticking ballot papers for their candidates in the home of an NRM supporter at Katunguru Primary School in Lake Katwe Sub-County in Kasese District. In a courageous attempt to safeguard the integrity of the election, he grabbed the ballot box, only to face immediate arrest at gunpoint by six policemen. Subsequently, he was forcibly taken to an unknown location in Kyenjojo district, two districts away from his hometown of Kasese.
Residents of Kikonzo, Railyway Ward, were gripped with fear as they discovered Thabugha lying in their compound this morning. After realizing he was still alive, they promptly informed the police, who rushed him to Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital in Kasese town for treatment.
ASP Nelson Tumusiime, the Rwenzori East Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and expressed regret over Thabugha’s ordeal, urging him to come forward and report the matter for a swift investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Thabugha, speaking to reporters after being rushed to the hospital, revealed the harrowing details of his one-week detention, including severe beatings that led to illness. During this time, his family and friends were unable to locate him, and he was released only after the NRM candidate was announced as the winner.
This distressing incident is not isolated, as another journalist, Alex Baluku, attached to Rwenzori Daily, an online platform and Radio Messiah in Kasese town, narrowly escaped death when covering the brutal arrest of opposition candidate Aloysius Kighema Baguma at Katunguru Primary School on 18th, last week.
Kighema was arrested for inquiring about security personnel from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces casting votes in army attire, a violation of Ugandan laws.
Baluku faced a life-threatening situation when a police officer, disguised in Uganda Police attire, threatened him at gunpoint to delete all photos and videos of the arrest. A woman, suspected to be a police officer, intervened, urging restraint as Baluku was on camera.
Despite surviving the ordeal, Baluku lost his sound recorder and other journalistic equipment. He reported the incident to the police but expressed little hope for justice, citing the involvement of those responsible in the archaic act.
When questioned about pursuing legal action, Baluku, with a heavy heart, admitted deep fear for his life. The loss of his phone, laptop, and colleague’s camera, coupled with threats against covering democratic and governance-related stories, left him with no choice but to let the case go.
Saimon Bikeke, Team Leader at Umbrella For Journalists in Kasese, voiced deep concern about the alarming pattern of harassment against journalists and opposition candidates. He questioned why the police, tasked with protecting citizens, would turn against them. Despite the grim circumstances, Bikeke pledged to continue amplifying voices against the abuse of journalists’ rights.
The disturbing events surrounding Thabugha’s dumping and Baluku’s near-death experience underscore a troubling trend of political interference and violence in Uganda.
The international community must closely monitor the situation, calling for a thorough investigation into these incidents and holding those responsible accountable. The safety and freedom of journalists and political activists are fundamental to the health of any democracy, and it is crucial to ensure their protection in Uganda.
