IGP Ochola directs Police Commanders to protect Journalists on duty

By Ben Musanje

3^rd May 2022

As the country joins the rest of the international community to commemorate the Word Press Freedom Day today, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola has directed police commanders to ensure protection of journalists during their line of duty.

Reading the IGP’s statement before the media today in Naguru, the Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga says that this directive orders the Commandants to ensure that no journalist is interfered, obstructed, intimidated or attacked physically while on the line of duty.

In February last year, Ochola was quoted accusing journalists of targeting security with the view of portraying it as brutal and siding with the government, insisting that they will continue beating reporters for their own safety.

However, Ochola says that the assistance and support provided by the Public Relations office at headquarters and the Kampala Metropolitan Area leadership in conjunction with media associations like UJA, Editors Guild and National Association of Broadcasters, will continue to ensure that the rights of journalists are respected.

Enanga says that police will continue ensuring the protection of journalists all over the country in order to serve the public without any hindrances from the security officers.