Journalism is one of the most dangerous professions in countries like Uganda where political tensions can lead to full blown violence. In the last two years, a number of prominent media personalities have left Uganda and settled overseas to escape this volatile atmosphere. Most, if not all, are rightly seeking better economic prospects. Yet majority of these have had to claim political persecution to make their cases stronger. Here are five journalists who have used their association with the National Unity Platform to get visas and disappear overseas.
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Patriko Mujuuka
Mujuuka was a renowned media personality, actor and events MC. He left for the United States in September 2023, using his association with National Unity Platform as his major ticket. Mujuuka worked at CBS Radio for more than 10 years before he tried his luck at politics. He lost the Nakifuma race in 2021 went back to CBS and then decided to run to the US. We have been told that he could come back in 2026.
Ntege Williams aka Kyuuma Kya Yesu
Ntege, known popularly as Kyuuma Kya Yesu, worked for WBS TV and Top TV. He later decided to go into political activism and was one of the supporters of NUP who were arrested in Kalangala in the last campaigns. After spending six months in jail, he was released and shortly left for Canada. He is now a vocal critic of government
Ashraf Kasirye
Kasirye, a journalists who later became an activist, left for the US after the 2021 election to ostensibly seek medical treatment. He suffered a life threatening head injury during the campaigns. Currently, he is in the US and is one of the NUP’s vocal mobilisers.
Baker Kigongo
The former sports broadcaster left for Canada in 2023. Kigongo was the host of NBS TV’s lunch sports show. Kigongo was not known to be political but we understand to get a visa to Canada, he had to lean on NUP and claim political persecution.
Patrick Kanyomozi
Like we reported last week, Kanyomozi fled to the US in January this year after resigning his position at KFM. Kanyomozi, who served as president of Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA), is now seeking asylum in the US. He was a prominent social media critic of the government and has never hidden his admiration for Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the president of NUP.