Journalists demand release of Bobi Wine filmmaker

Journalists in Uganda are calling for the authorities to release a colleague who has been detained, days after filming the opposition politician and musician Bobi Wine.

Moses Bwayo was arrested by police and soldiers last week and was charged with unlawful assembly.

Whilst awaiting trial he has been sent to prison, even though the alleged offence is normally bailable.

In a statement, the Foreign Correspondents Association of Uganda said the authorities must not criminalise journalists for reporting on opposition political groups.

Rights groups say, President Yoweri Museveni - who has been in power for 34 years - is increasingly intolerant of criticism and journalists are routinely harassed.

Moses Bwayo, a #Uganda-n journalist who was arrested (later released on bond) for documenting a #BobiWine music video shoot last month has today been remanded to Luzira Prison until next Friday after being charged with "unlawful assembly" #PressFreedomUG #JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/JaSFRc0x6r

— The Observer (@observerug) March 4, 2020