Pressure is mounting on authorities to investigate an incident in which two journalists were allegedly assaulted and detained by police while attempting to verify a viral social media claim about a police station in western Uganda.
The journalists had reportedly visited Kashenshero Town Council Police Station after a TikTok video alleged that the facility is often left unattended. What began as a verification exercise allegedly escalated into confrontation with officers on duty.
According to accounts attributed to the journalists, they were detained and subjected to humiliating treatment while in custody. One of them alleged: “We were forced to eat mandazi while they blocked our noses.” The claim has not been independently verified.
The development has sparked concern among media stakeholders and human rights defenders, who are calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the conduct of officers involved.
The Uganda Police Force has not yet released an official statement on the allegations, despite growing public attention on the incident.
Meanwhile, rights advocates are urging the Uganda Human Rights Commission to intervene, citing concerns over press freedom and the treatment of journalists performing public-interest reporting.
The incident has also reignited debate over the safety of journalists working in rural districts such as Mitooma District, Uganda, where oversight of security operations is often limited and accountability mechanisms are frequently questioned.
As scrutiny intensifies, media associations are expected to issue formal statements demanding protection for journalists and clarification from police leadership regarding the events at Kashenshero.
