A BBS TV journalist says she was beaten and robbed of equipment worth about Shs7.3 million after a boda boda rider allegedly lured her off the main road in Butambala.
Ireen Mirembe, 28, says she was returning home to Mpigi after covering a news story in Butambala when she was attacked by suspected robbers travelling on a motorcycle.
Mirembe, a resident of Bukakala Village in Mpigi Town Council, Mpigi District, said she had finished her assignment at about 3pm and was returning to Mpigi, where she planned to write scripts and sort pictures.
While waiting for a taxi from Gomba and Butambala to Mpigi, she said a boda boda rider offered to take her to Mpigi.
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However, Mirembe said she became suspicious when the rider suddenly left the main road and turned into a bushy area.
"I asked him why he was taking a different route because I had told him I was going to Mpigi. He told me he had another passenger going to Kampala and suggested that we travel together, with him dropping me in Mpigi before proceeding to Kampala," Mirembe said.
She said her fears increased when they encountered another young man who appeared to be waiting for them.
According to Mirembe, the men ordered her to get off the motorcycle and allow the other man to board before instructing her to sit at the back.
"When I got off the motorcycle, they pulled my bag from me. I asked where they were taking it, but they threatened me and warned me that if I continued asking questions, they would beat me," she said.
Mirembe said she tried to hold onto the bag but one of the assailants punched her, causing her to fall.
She said the attackers continued beating her before ordering her to choose between surrendering the bag and losing her life.
"I left them with the bag and they rode away on the motorcycle," she said.
Mirembe said she tried to raise an alarm and stop passing motorcycles, but no one came to her rescue.
The stolen bag contained a Canon 6D Mark III camera, lenses, a laptop, a BBS press card, a BBS press jacket and other work-related items.
She estimates the total value of the stolen equipment at about Shs7.3 million, with the camera and lenses alone valued at approximately Shs6.5 million.
Mirembe said the suspects also tricked her into placing her Samsung A16 smartphone inside the bag shortly before the attack.
"One of the riders told me to put my phone in the bag and wear my glasses because they were going to ride very fast to Kampala. I put the phone inside, not knowing that they were planning to take everything from me. I could no longer call anyone or use the phone to take pictures," she said.
After recovering from the shock, Mirembe reported the incident to Mpigi Police Station and later to Kibiibi Police Station in Butambala, where she says the attack occurred.
She said she was advised to deposit money with people who could help track the stolen phone but has so far received no assistance.
Local leaders in Mpigi, led by Mpigi Town Council Deputy Mayor Hassan Wasswa Mujuzi, have condemned what they described as increasing attacks on journalists working in the area.
Mujuzi said the attacks were worrying because journalists play an important role in exposing crime and informing the public.
"It is surprising that journalists who have been helping the community by exposing crime are now becoming victims themselves. As leaders, we are concerned that perhaps criminals want to weaken the media sector in Mpigi so that there are no cameras to expose them when they commit crimes. Ireen is not the first victim," Mujuzi said.
Similar attacks
Journalists in Mpigi say Mirembe's case is the third reported attack involving journalists in the area.
They cited the earlier assault of Bukedde journalist Joseph Kinobe, who was allegedly beaten and had his camera damaged, followed by an attack on Nation Media journalist Brian Adams Kesiime, whose camera was also damaged.
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The journalists said they had reported the incidents to police but had not seen meaningful action.
They are now calling on the government and security authorities in the Katonga region to investigate the attacks and strengthen protection for journalists working in the area.
"We are becoming a target in Mpigi. We have reported all these cases to police, but we have not seen justice. We want the police to explain why they are not coming out to protect journalists, yet without journalists, they cannot effectively communicate with the public," the journalists said.
Nile Post contacted Katonga Regional Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe by phone for comment on the robbery and concerns raised by journalists, but she did not respond to our calls.
Mirembe says the robbery has left her without most of the equipment she relied on to do her job. She no longer has her camera, laptop or smartphone and is currently using a basic phone.
