KAMPALA — Concerns over press freedom have intensified following the reported abduction of Ugandan journalist Arnold Mukose shortly after he hosted a radio talk show discussing a recent Constitutional Court ruling.
Mukose, the programmes director at Alternative DigiTalk Media, was reportedly picked up on March 29 outside Metro FM in Old Kampala after analyzing the court’s March 17 decision that struck down sections of the Computer Misuse Act, 2022.
According to accounts circulating among media practitioners and rights groups, Mukose was arrested shortly after leaving the station and later taken to Old Kampala Police Station.
Sources allege that security operatives also conducted a search at his residence, confiscating electronic devices including a laptop and mobile phones.
He was reportedly held briefly before being handed over to unidentified individuals, with claims that his lawyers and family have since been denied access to him.
The Uganda Journalists Association condemned the incident, describing it as a violation of media freedoms.
“This is a barbaric arrest and an attack on journalism and freedom of expression,” the association said in a statement.
Similarly, the Uganda Law Society raised concerns, calling the incident politically motivated and urging authorities to respect the rule of law.
The developments have sparked outrage on social media, with activists rallying under hashtags such as #FreeMukoseAnthony, warning of growing threats to press freedom.
By press time, the Uganda Police Force had not issued an official statement addressing the allegations or clarifying Mukose’s whereabouts.
The incident comes amid ongoing debate over digital rights and freedom of expression following the Constitutional Court ruling on the Computer Misuse Act, which had been widely criticized for restricting online speech.
Media rights advocates are now calling for Mukose’s immediate release and for authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists operating in the country.
