2 Journalists Arrested in Kabale Over Power Outages March

In a dramatic turn of events, two journalists in Kabale have been arrested for allegedly inciting violence during a protest against constant power outages in the region. Job Namanya Apuuli, the New Vision Kigezi Bureau Chief, and Obed Kankiriho of Daily Monitor, were detained late Thursday night at approximately 11:40 PM, along with two other individuals: Charlotte Murungi Kemigisha, a former National Resistance Movement (NRM) party youth councilor for Northern Division in Kabale municipality, and Precious Tumuranze.

The group was reportedly apprehended at Café Bea, located along Kabale main road, where they were accused of mobilizing residents to march to the Umeme offices in protest of the ongoing power disruptions. According to Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, the four were coordinating efforts to incite a protest, a move that led to their arrest.

Maate further criticized the journalists, accusing them of stepping out of their professional roles and becoming activists. “The two journalists were found coordinating a protest, which is not within their professional domain,” Maate stated.

However, Kankiriho has vehemently denied the accusations. He insists that his presence at the café was purely coincidental, as he was there to deliver a bag to his colleague, Namanya, and had no involvement in any protest planning. “I had left my office to hand over a bag to Namanya, who was at Café Ballista. I was not part of any mobilization,” Kankiriho explained.

The incident comes on the heels of rising tensions in Kabale over frequent power outages that have disrupted the lives and livelihoods of many residents, particularly the business community. Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Kabale Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Godfrey Nyakahuma held a meeting with Umeme officials to address the growing discontent.

During the meeting, Umeme officials acknowledged the ongoing issues but informed the public that the power outages would likely continue until December. The delays, they explained, are due to the ongoing construction of a high-voltage substation in Karukara, Kamurwa Sub County, Rubanda district. This explanation, however, did little to pacify the frustrated residents, who vowed to take their grievances to the Umeme offices.

The arrest of the journalists and their companions has sparked a wave of concern, especially among media practitioners and human rights activists, who see this as an attempt to suppress free expression and the right to protest. As the situation develops, there will likely be increased scrutiny on the actions of both the police and the local government in handling this sensitive issue.

The case highlights the broader challenges faced by communities grappling with infrastructure issues and the role of the media in amplifying their voices. As the story unfolds, it remains to be seen how the authorities will address the growing unrest and whether the journalists will face further legal action.