The European Union in Uganda has condemned the manner in which students and journalists were brutalized in the recent days during the Makerere University protests.

In a statement dated November 1, 2019, the EU says it is alarmed by the use of force against and unwarranted arrest of journalists attempting to cover recent events at Makerere.

“We support the analysis of the events made by the Uganda Human Rights Commission and call upon all the parties, particularly the Uganda Police Force and Uganda People’s Defense Forces, to refrain from acts of violence and to respect freedom of assembly and expression. Any possible misconduct by their members should be investigated and acted upon.”

The commission calls upon both the University and the security services to ensure that all accredited journalists are allowed to do their job without intimidation and harassment so they can report events independently.