HAPPENING NOW: VOTE COUNTING | KAWEMPE NORTH DECIDES

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EKIRIWO KATI: OBUBALA OBULULU KUTANDIKA ESSAAWA YONNA
Kawempe North by-election: Tension as military arrests journalists, MPs
Two opposition Members of Parliament and journalists are among several people who have been arrested in the ongoing Kawempe North MP by-election on yet to be known charges amid heavy military deployment and brutality from security operatives.
The MPs Geofrey Kayemba Ssolo (Bukomansimbi South) and Hillary Kiyaga (Mawokota North), both members of the leading opposition political party, National Unity Platform (NUP) were arrested at Kazo Angola polling station and whisked away by security operatives.
Security operatives beat up journalists who were covering the arrest, broke some cameras and confiscated others.
During the operation, they also arrested several journalists, some of whom include Abubaker Lubowa, Raymond Tamale, Denis Kabugo, Francis Isano and Hakim Wampamba who, by the time of filing this story, were detained in a Toyota Hiace vehicle notoriously referred to as the drone.
One of the journalists who witnessed the arrest of their colleagues said: "They put us on gunpoint and ordered us not to record anything."
Several journalists have been forced to flee from some polling stations for safety following what’s now suspected to be a deliberate target by the military.
"I was talking to people who had not voted when UPDF soldiers arrived in two patrol vehicles and started arresting some people. When some of the security operatives saw the camera, they came and attacked me, beating me with sticks and even damaging my camera. I ran into a nearby building but since they had already identified me, I removed my press jacket and scarf and ran into a toilet for safety."- one of NMG-U journalists, Hasifah Nanvuma.
The military has also deployed mambas, drones and heavily armed men both in uniform and plain clothes, especially around Kazo Angola.

The development comes just hours after the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) condemned what it described as escalating security violence against journalists.

"The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) strongly condemns the escalating violence and assaults meted against our journalists by security forces. These attacks observed over the past few months threaten press freedom and undermine the democratic principles upon which our nation is built. Journalists must be allowed to perform their duties without fear of harassment, intimidation, or physical harm," the association said in a statement.

Since February 26, which marked the start of the nomination of candidates for the seat that fell vacant following the death of then MP Muhammad Ssegirinya in January this year, at least three journalists have been targeted and brutalised by security operatives.
They include: Miracle Ibrah of Top TV; Steven Kibwiika, a cameraman with Spark TV and Stephen Mbidde of NTV.
The March 13 voting was delayed to start at some polling stations due to malfunction of voter verification machines and late arrival of voters.