By Emmanuel Gyezaho
Journalists covering the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Peoples Forum (CPF) in Kampala yesterday faced-off with Ugandan security officials over media accreditation to the summit.
Trouble begun after officials of President Yoweri Museveni’s elite protection unit, the Presidential Guard Brigade (PGB), barred reporters who didn’t carry a “special†accreditation tag, from covering the opening gala.
It was in many ways a bizarre spectacle as it turned out that reporters were never informed that they needed additional accreditation, on top of the official media accreditation issued by the Commonwealth Secretariat. Worse still, the security officials took the decision to issue a second accreditation without informing the Secretariat.
It was a frustrating experience for many reporters, both local and international, especially those who have travelled thousands of miles to cover one of the biggest events on the Commonwealth calendar this year.
I spoke to Mr Julius Mucunguzi, a communications officer in charge of media and broadcasting at the Commonwealth Secretariat, and while he expressed utter shock at the organizational hitch, he was very optimistic it wouldn’t affect the smooth running of the event.
But we cannot forget that this was the opening of the largest civil society event this year, a grouping of people better known for their love-hate relationship with politicians and the government.
And we also know that civil society has often been accused of hiding behind the media in promoting interests not favourable to the state. So were there any ulterior motives in issuing a second accreditation? Why was the Commonwealth Secretariat kept in the dark?
These are questions that need answers. It would be a sad commentary for Uganda as host, if such organizational hitches continue at the ensuing Commonwealth events.
I interviewed Julius Mucunguzi about the hitch.
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iam just mindful of that!! it is evident from the past that these so called PGB’S are always above the law and the common uganda. they are as curios as the one who commands them. i just dont think that it should surprise you. only may be a few cases of the international journalists who were exposed to the wrath of uganda while we had tried so much to cover up on it the short run. but we have it locally as a proverb,” the behaviour of the child is a direct reflection from who brought it up!!” bniwagaba@yahoo.com
It is a pity that such a thing had to happen at such an event. However, we should not be surprised [especially we in Uganda] at the irrational behaviour of these hordes of security men. Whenever an event is going to be attended by the President, there is a swarm of the “camouflages”(sic) that have to show their presence [as if their distinct attire is not same]. This is shown by them “harassing” the peaceful people who care less about security threats, real or imagined. Incidentally, they may even care much less whether the President is there or not. We, the people, just want to use the forum to meet and interact with other people like us.
Questions: Does it matter whether or not a “Big Man” opens the forum? What is the fuss about an official opening anyway? Isn’t it rightly called a Peoples Forum [I suggest next time, such an event happens, organisers get a ordinary person with no need for a security detail to “officially open” it. I think it makes more sense that way.