The security detail of the Vice President, Jessica Alupo on Wednesday waylaid a Vision Group journalist, beating him and confiscating his gadgets for covering a public event.
Alfred Atwau, a Soroti-based journalist, working with Etop Radio of Vision Group is currently nursing injuries at a clinic in Katakwi Town after Alupo’s security officers threw kicks and punches at him for doing his work.
On the fateful day, Atwau who was armed with an audio recorder and camera travelled from Soroti to Katakwi to cover a meeting in Okore Sub County, Ngariam County, convened by VP Alupo.
The meeting, however, turned heated when voters led by their LC3 chairperson, Charles Ikabat started firing hard-hitting questions to the Vice President regarding service delivery and good governance.
“Madam Vice President, isn’t it a bit shocking and surprising that you have finally remembered to come to Okore after you said it was a ghost sub county with no human beings? What has now changed?” Ikabat said. The journalist, Atwau was in position to capture the heated exchange- an alteration that Alupo seemed uncomfortable with and didn’t want it captured in the media.
In a split second, Alupo’s security officers surrounded Atwau and demanded that he deletes the recordings and immediately leave the venue.
Sensing danger, Atwau avoided the confrontation with the heavy-faced officers and dashed out of the venue. Little did he know that the armed officers had driven ahead of him and mounted a roadblock where he was surrounded and thumped thoroughly, destroying his gadgets, including a mobile phone before they sped off.
Atwau sought treatment in a clinic before attempting to report a case of assault and theft at Katakwi Police Station but was frustrated by the OC CID, Anthony Magola who cunningly refused to register the case. It is alleged that he had received a phone call from Alupo before talking to the victim.
In 2021, Okore Sub County was a battlefield for election violence after a deadly clash broke out, resulting in death and several people sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Security has come under scrutiny for the rampant violations of press freedoms and human rights characterised by brutal harassment of journalists, hitting new heights during the Kawempe North by-election.
