This morning our task team in Greater Masaka had violent confrontations with the NUP candidate and his supporters at a check point in Kyabakuza after they defied the route plan agreed upon to Kyotera District. Tear gas was used to quell the violence and journalists were regrettably caught up during the process of dispersing the violent group. Notably among them was a Ghetto TV crew member identified as Ashraf Kasirye, who sustained blunt force injuries above the left eye allegedly from a canister. The victim was rushed to Masaka Referral Hospital for medical attention. He remains stable but in serious critical condition and on transfer to Kampala for better management.
Our Media crimes department has taken interest in the matter and opened a casefile to investigate the circumstances.
We do appreciate the critical role journalists while covering the campaigns and pledge better protection cover so as to remain safe while documenting violent confrontations.
We call upon anyone with digital evidence regarding the disturbing incident to share it with our task team of investigators from CID headquarters.
More details to follow.
CP Fred Enanga
Police Spokesperson
27.12.2020
