The Uganda Sports Press Association – USPA has cautioned its members and all sports journalists in general to avoid and stay away from rugby games, The Tower Post reports.

The warning was issued by USPA President Patrick Kanyomozi in a statement released on Monday morning following the assault of New Vision journalist Johnson Were by Warriors Rugby Club player Gabriel Aredo.

Were who is also USPA’s General Secretary was on Sunday covering the Kyabazinga 7s Rugby circuit in Bugembe, Eastern Uganda. When the incident happened, I was during a semifinal game between Kobs and Heathens RFC.

According to reports, the Chairperson of the Nile Special 7s organizing committee Erasmus Aredo confronted former Rugby Cranes player Alex Mubiru for standing very close to the touchline and a fight ensued.

During the scuffle, Warriors player Gabriel Aredo joined his brother Erasmus to provide support in the fight. In the meantime, Were was taking pictures of the events.

“On realizing that he [Were] was capturing images of the ugly incident he [Aredo] charged at him [Were] with an intention of grabbing his camera, hence the physical assault which left the camera lens seriously damaged,” Kanyomozi wrote in the statement which The Tower Post has seen.

“We strongly condemn this attack on our colleague and senior executive member and we call upon Uganda Rugby Union to bring the culprit to book and hold everyone involved accountable,

“In the meantime, we advise our members to stay away from Rugby games until this matter is resolved to its logical conclusion. This is for their safety and it takes immediate effect,” the statement further reads.

Kanyomozi revealed that the matter has also been reported to Police and pledged the association’s full support of their member in his pursuit of justice.

The Uganda Rugby Union is yet to make a comment about the matter.