By David Oduut 

Police in East Kyoga is set to clash with Journalists in the Teso sub-region in a football encounter meant to boost relations between the two.  

The friendly game to be played this afternoon at Oligoi stadium comes at a time when police and the media in the region are tied in a frosty relationship following indecent encounters in the recent past.  

Police have for several years been named as the major perpetrator of violent crimes against journalists in Uganda. According to HRNJ a journalists’ network, the police usually crack down on journalists through assaults, brutal arrests, detention for hours, damage and confiscation of their tools, and sometimes denied access to news scenes. This commonly happens during political coverage. 

In the recent political coverage of the Soroti City East parliamentary by-elections, journalists in Teso faulted police for tear gassing and pepper? spraying them in the course of their duty. While police on the other hand accused journalists of overstepping their line of duty by working as political agents and spying especially for the opposition candidates.  

However, today’s game which is to be followed up with a return leg in a few weeks’ time is seen as an opportunity for the two to mend ties and improve their working relations.  

According to Eddy Enuru the Teso Bureau Chief for NBS Television who is the coordinator, the event is a gesture that the two parties are willing to put away the past altercations and differences and make a fresh start for a good course. 

“The football game is a gesture that the media is always willing to work with the police and the fact that they have accepted to hold a friendly game means that other work-related issues also have room to be ironed out. At the end of it all, we both need a better working relationship that can foster an environment fit for both to do their work freely,” Enuru said.  

Mr. Emmanuel Opio the communications officer Kapelebyong district who doubles as the assistant captain for the Teso media team said much as the game portrays the beginning of a better working relationship, it is also an opportunity to remind state actors such as the police to observe press freedoms in the country.  The game shouldn’t, therefore, be a mere public relations stunt for the police. 

SP Oscar Ageca the East Kyoga police spokesperson said the law enforcement officers are ready for the game and spoke with optimism that the game shall foster a better working relationship between the police and the media.