Ugandan journalist arrested while covering security meeting

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 10 November 2026 |  JP Global Monitoring

Nation Media Group correspondent John Kenneth Odele was arrested while covering a security meeting in Soroti, Uganda, Daily Monitor reported. A local police commander said he was verifying the circumstances.

Summary

SOROTI — A Nation Media Group (NMG) journalist was arrested on November 10 while covering a government security meeting in Soroti, eastern Uganda, raising questions about the circumstances of his detention.

John Kenneth Odele, a correspondent working in the Teso sub-region, was taken into custody at Soroti University, where Security Minister Jim Muhwezi had convened a meeting attended by security and intelligence officials, according to Daily Monitor, an NMG publication.

Police yet to explain arrest

The newspaper reported that Odele was taken to Soroti City Central Police Station. The reason for his arrest remained unclear, and authorities had not publicly identified any charges at the time of reporting.

Soroti City East Division Police Commander Godfrey Byaruhanga told Daily Monitor that he was verifying the circumstances and would provide further information. However, no response had been received by the newspaper's reporting deadline.

A source at the police station said the officer handling the journalist's case was unavailable when reporters sought information.

Earlier concerns about journalist safety

The arrest came amid concerns about journalists' safety in Uganda. On November 7, Uganda Journalists Association president Emmanuel Kirunda urged authorities to respect press freedom and protect journalists carrying out their professional duties.

His remarks preceded Odele's arrest and were not a response to the incident.

Journalists in the Teso sub-region have previously raised concerns about intimidation and violence. In June 2023, media workers marched through Soroti and submitted a petition to the Uganda Human Rights Commission following reported assaults and threats during local by-elections, according to Uganda Radio Network.

The November 10 security meeting formed part of a nationwide initiative through which Minister Muhwezi has urged security agencies to monitor government projects and help prevent corruption.

Daily Monitor did not establish who ordered Odele's arrest or whether it was connected to his reporting assignment. His subsequent detention status had not been independently confirmed at the time of this report.

ATTRIBUTION: Prepared by JournalismPakistan staff based on Daily Monitor (November 10, 2026); Uganda Radio Network (June 21, 2023).

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only.