Bobi Wine’s Bodyguards Assault Journalists and Destroy Equipment at Masaka Burial

On Saturday in Masaka, bodyguards of Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, assaulted several journalists and destroyed their cameras. This incident happened while Mr. Kyagulanyi attended Pascal Ssekasamba’s burial at Manga Village in Kiseka Subcounty, Lwengo District.

Next Media’s Zainab Namusaazi Ssengendo was among those attacked. “I was capturing Kyagulanyi’s arrival when his bodyguards began beating Margaret Kayondo, a Radio Simba journalist,” Ms. Ssengendo reported. She said she tried to stop them, but a masked bodyguard pulled her leg, trying to make her fall.

Bobi Wine’s security head, Eddy Mutwe, intervened and stopped the bodyguards. However, Achileo Kivumbi continued by yanking off Ms. Ssengendo’s camera lens. The confrontation left journalists with minor injuries and caused significant damage to equipment, including cameras.

Ms. Kayondo described the scene as chaotic and unwarranted. “We were just doing our job, covering a public event, and suddenly we were under attack,” she said. Mr. Kyagulanyi, president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has not yet commented on his bodyguards’ actions.

Achileo Kivumbi specifically targeted Next Media’s Zainab Ssengendo, damaging her camera. The Greater Masaka Journalists’ Association (GREMAJA) has demanded immediate action against the perpetrators. “This is a blatant attack on press freedom and journalists’ rights to report safely,” said Antonio Kalyango of GREMAJA. “We demand that Kyagulanyi and his team take responsibility for this unacceptable behavior and hold those involved accountable.”

Kalyango also warned journalists to prepare for the upcoming 2026 election period, citing increasing attacks and violence against journalists. He called upon the Human Rights Network for Journalists to intervene to stop these violations, especially with the 2026 general election campaigns approaching.