By Charles Katabalwa
20th July 2023
A gang of youths has been unleashed onto journalists who had camped at the entrance of the headquarters of the Opposition Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party at Najjanankumbi who stole and vandalized their property.
The lunch time chaotic scenes left journalists beaten by the gang that allegedly emerged from within the FDC headquarters and their items used in news reporting such as; mobile phones, voice recorders and cameras were stolen or damaged.
Among others the journalists who have been badly assaulted was Urban TV’s Rachael Ainembabazi, and Martin Amayiko Kigongo of Radio Simba while others like; Charles Katabalwa of Radio Sapientia, William Katoloba of Namirembe FM, Joseph Balikudembe of CBS Radio, and Moses Waiswa of Busoga One FM had their phones stolen.
The situation was sparked off by a group of FDC activists who stormed the place demanding for the release of their National Chairperson Amb. Wasswa Birigwa who was denied full access to the party premises to address the media.
Birigwa was forced to leave his vehicle outside the main gate and entered through a small gate since 11 am and only managed to leave the premises late in the evening after being assisted by other party members to jump over the fence.
The regrettable experience on the journalists stems from the misunderstandings within the FDC leadership that ended up in verbal exchanges since last Friday between the group at the headquarters at Najjanankumbi led by the Party President Patrick Amuriat Oboi and the faction led by the Party Spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who is accusing the former of allegedly bagging billions of shillings purportedly from sources within the ruling NRM party.
Due to this scenario, Birigwa called for a meeting this morning at the party headquarters to address the media after authoring a letter stopping the planned party elections schedule to take place from tomorrow 21st to 23rd July at the village and parish levels across the country.
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