The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Security heads in Masaka District on Monday boycotted the World Press Freedom Day celebrations despite being invited.
Journalists operating from the greater Masaka sub-region under their umbrella body of South Buganda Journalists Association-SOBUJA converged in Masaka town to commemorate this year’s World Press Freedom Day, on which they invited among other people security personnel in the area.
The celebrations were also intended to remember journalists who have died and sustained injuries in the line of duty.
However, all the invited security heads who include among others the Resident District Commissioner, the Regional and District Police Commanders did not attend the celebrations and none of them sent a representative.
The mass was delayed for almost an hour in anticipation that the invited security officers would show up but in vain.
Edward Tomusange, one of the event organizers was disappointed after the officers declined the honour the invitations extended to them.
However, one of the invited security officers who preferred anonymity says that they were uncomfortable to attend a mass celebrated by Reverend Father Richard Mugisha, whom he claims is critical of the government.
According to the officer, they advised the event organizers against the choice of Mugisha as the main celebrant preferring one who would give all participants peace.
During the mass, Mugisha, a priest attached to Bisanje Parish in Masaka City, did not have any kind words for violators of journalists; specifically hitting out individuals within the security forces who oppress media practitioners. He cited the most recent incidents in which security battered journalists who were covering a demonstration in Mityana district and the death of Robert Kagolo, the former Uganda Journalists Association- UJA President who was shot dead last week.
He on the other hand took time off to challenge journalists to assess their ethical conduct while doing the profession, arguing in some cases media practitioners have fallen short of their expectations.
Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Member of Parliament for Masaka Municipality tasked media practitioner to always stick to being truthful and strive for justice despite the challenges associated with their work.
Mpuuga likened the journalism profession to an image of a double-edged sword made out of glass which reflects in all directions, without omitting the image of the person holding the sword.
*******
URN
