The Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola has declined to apologise for police crack down on journalists saying some of the beatings they receive are meant to protect them.
Ochola made the remarks during a joint security briefing on Friday at the police headquarters in Naguru, a Kampala suburb.
“We’ve been beating journalists to restrain them from going where there’s danger. Police beat journalists to help them…for their own safety. When a police officer tells you to stop, you must stop for your own safety. I won’t apologise for police actions,” Ochola said.
He was responding to a question from the media about recent police actions on journalists that many said were uncalled for.
Last week, journalists walked out on another security press conference called to brief the country on the Tarehe Sita army celebrations.
Tarehe Sita celebrates the launch of the National Resistance Army rebellion that brought President Yoweri Museveni to power.
Ochola instead blamed the media for portraying the police as a brutal entity.
