UNESCO chief calls on Ugandan authorities to punish journalist’s killers

The head of the United Nations agency entrusted with defending press freedom today called on the Ugandan authorities to do everything possible to bring to justice the killers of a journalist who was attacked by an angry crowd while covering a protest by dozens of motorcyclists.

Paul Kiggundu, a correspondent for Top Radio and several television stations, was beaten unconscious and died on his way to hospital on 10 September in the southern town of Rakai after motorcyclists protesting over the murder the previous day of a fellow biker turned on him when they saw him filming their attack on the home of a suspect.

“I deplore the death of Paul Kiggundu,” UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova said in a statement. “He died in the exercise of his mission as a journalist, covering the news so that the public could be informed.

“His murder is a tragic illustration of the risks media professionals take every day in the name of freedom of expression. I call on the Ugandan authorities to make every effort to investigate this crime and bring the culprits to justice.”

Ms. Bokova has frequently intervenes in defence of freedom of the press, condemning the killings of more than three dozen journalists and media workers so far this year.