'We want Simeo"- Journalists

JOURNALISTS BOYCOTT POLICE PRESS BRIEFING

Journalists who had gone to attend a press briefing at Central Police Station on Monday, stormed out of the police building in protest, after Police Public Relations Officer, Judith Nabakoba, failed to address them.

After waiting for over an hour for a press briefing, the journalists were informed that the Police spokesperson was not around to address them, but had delegated her deputy, assistant spokesperson, Central region, Mr. Kafeero to talk to the journalists.

The journalists, who had converged at CPS for the briefing scheduled for 11:00a.m, got rowdy and agitated when a police constable informed them that Mr. Kafeero was also out of office, and that the briefing had been postponed to 2:00p.m.

Attempts by Kampala Extra Regional Officer, Mr. Edward Ochom, to calm the journalists, and fill in for Nabakoba were futile, as the angry press people accused Nabakoba of disrespecting them.

“How do you call a press briefing, and then fail to show up, moreover without an excuse. That is disrespecting us,” said one Kirabo from Uganda Broadcasting Corporation.

“Public Relations Officers should be trained in the working of the media,” he added, claming that Ms. Nabakoba did not deliver as effectively as former police spokesperson, Mr. Simeo Nsubuga.

Other journalists claimed that Ms. Nabakoba had foregone the CPS meet, and called just a few journalists to Kiira Road Police station to address them. They claimed that she had sent phone sms texts to some journalists who quietly walked out of the meeting room.

The journalists, who numbered about 30, chanted Simeo Nsubuga’s name, saying he should be returned as Police spokesperson.

When contacted, Ms. Nabakoba said she could not make it to CPS because she had a meeting at Kiira Road, after which she was asked to parade a suspect who was due for court on accusation of making counterfeit money, .

“Presenting the suspect at Kiira Road was done at short notice that’s why I could not get all the journalists here,” she said. “Besides, I had asked my deputy to direct the press briefing,” she added.

Ms. Nabakoba said she had asked the journalists to return at 2:00p.m, but Mr. Ochom told her they had already left.

“I was told you people were just quarreling. If you have a problem, we should meet on Monday and you tell me what it is,” she said. How can I be at CPS every Monday, even when there is no news,” she added.

She said the only news at CPS was about a stolen vehicle, and the usual traffic reports, which can be got from any police station.

Ms. Judith Nabakoba is currently filling in the post of spokesperson Kampala Extra, which Mr. Simeo Nsubuga held before he was transferred to Kyambogo as the Chief Security Officer on December2 2008. .