Journalists Boycott Police Briefing Over Tooro Palace Camera Ban

Media professionals assigned to cover the burial and succession proceedings at the Tooro Kingdom palace faced significant obstacles on Friday. Security personnel implemented strict measures, barring journalists from entering the royal grounds with their cameras and mobile phones.

The palace was a focal point of activity as mourners gathered for the final vigil of the late King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukiidi IV, with his burial scheduled for Saturday.

Despite the heightened security presence, officers at the palace gates were unable to provide a clear explanation for the ban on media equipment. Attempts to seek clarification from within the palace also proved unsuccessful, with officials distancing themselves from the directive.

In protest of the restrictions, a large contingent of journalists opted not to attend a police briefing that had been organized outside the palace. They argued that their cameras and phones are indispensable tools for their work, enabling them to gather information, capture images, and provide real-time updates to their audiences.

“Security concerns could have been addressed through dialogue rather than an outright ban on media equipment,” stated Wilson Asiimwe of Vision Group, highlighting the frustration among his colleagues. Other journalists expressed similar sentiments, noting the suddenness of the restrictions and the lack of prior communication from the royal family or the Babiito clan, who have historically welcomed media coverage.

Police spokesperson SP Kituma Rusoke indicated he would seek guidance from his superiors regarding the possibility of easing these restrictions. The situation unfolds as the kingdom grapples with the funeral arrangements for King Oyo and a concurrent succession dispute, with Prince Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma having been named king-elect by Babiito clan elders.

Read more: https://observer.ug/news/journalists-walk-out-on-police-over-blockade-at-tooro-palace