The sudden disappearance of Baba TV senior reporter Jjengo Eria on September 10, 2026, has sent shockwaves through Uganda’s media community, renewing urgent questions about the safety of journalists operating ahead of upcoming elections.
Last seen leaving the newsroom’s head office in Ntinda around midday, Jjengo’s whereabouts remain unknown. Eyewitness accounts from the surrounding area describe unmarked vehicles—a Toyota Noah and a Toyota Premio—intercepting an individual matching Jjengo’s description, sparking widespread fears of a targeted abduction. Despite a formal police case being filed at Kira Road Police Station (Ref: 61.11.09.026), official authorities have provided few public answers regarding the progress of their investigation or whether CCTV and telecommunications data are being actively reviewed.
The incident highlights a troubling pattern of state silence and informal detentions that increasingly target media professionals in politically sensitive climates. As professional press freedom associations like the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) step forward to demand transparency, the situation underscores a chilling reality: when reporting on public affairs becomes a high-risk endeavor, fundamental democratic rights face immediate jeopardy.
If free expression and personal liberty are to remain protected rights rather than mere constitutional assertions, state security agencies must deliver clear answers, conduct a transparent investigation, and ensure the immediate, safe return of Jjengo Eria.
