Police in Adjumani district are on spot for ordering journalists out of Apaa, an area claimed by residents in both Amuru and Adjumani district.
The journalists—15 in number—had travelled on a reporting trip from Gulu to Apaa on May 24. The Gulu-based journalists comprised of reporters working for local and national media outlets.
They had travelled to Apaa under the auspices of the Northern Uganda Media Club(NUMEC), a Gulu- based media development organization.
On reaching Apaa and beginning to conduct interviews, police stopped the team of journalists accusing them of negative reporting on Apaa and not having permission from the Adjumani Police Commander.
Police took away a recorder from Emma Okanokodi, one of the journalists and returned it five hours later.
Okanokodi said a plain- clothed found him conducting and interview and stopped him.
In a statement on May 27, NUMEC condemned the action of police, calling on unlimited access to the area.
‘‘Apaa is subject of national interest and as such journalists should have unrestricted access to the location for independent reporting that informs, educates and probes,’’ read part of the NUMEC statement.
NUMEC urged the police not to use the conflict over land in Apaa to limited journalism.
‘‘We appreciate the sensitivity around the conflict over land in Apaa, but we strongly object to it being used to gag independent journalism,’’ the statement further read.
When contacted, Josephine Anguchia, the West Nile Region police spokesperson referred our reporter to Fred Enanga the police spokesperson saying he[Enanga] was at better placed to respond to the matter.
