The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has protested the continued detention of journalist Remy Asiteza, who has reportedly spent five days in police custody at the Central Police Station (CPS) in Kampala.

Asiteza, a journalist with the Daily Express online news website, was arrested on August 11, 2026, in an operation reportedly involving security operatives attached to the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit (SHACU).

According to UJA, Asiteza was arrested alongside his colleague, Hannington Mbabazi, who was reportedly picked up from Bweyogerere-Kirinnya and detained at the SHACU offices before being released later that Thursday without any charges being preferred against him.

UJA said police records identify Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda and her Personal Assistant, Juma Masuumi, as complainants in the matter, although the association said the specific charge against Asiteza had not been disclosed by the time of issuing its statement.

The journalist’s detention comes shortly after he published a news article earlier this month concerning alleged corruption in the recruitment process for Assistant Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Resident District Commissioners.

The report indicated that the recruitment process was being investigated following a presidential directive.
UJA said it was alerted to Asiteza’s continued detention on the evening of Tuesday, August 17, and attempted to intervene through its Secretary General, Emmanuel Kirunda, to secure his release on police bond, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

The journalists’ body has expressed concern that the continued detention of Asiteza could amount to a violation of the constitutional safeguards governing the detention of suspects.
“UJA feels that his continued detention is a violation of the 48-hour rule under Article 23(4)(b) of the 1995 Constitution,” the association said, noting that the law requires a person arrested and detained to be brought before a court of law within the stipulated period.

The association further warned that the circumstances surrounding Asiteza’s detention raise concerns about possible intimidation of journalists and interference with the independence of journalism.

UJA has consequently demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Asiteza, arguing that he has remained in police custody beyond the constitutionally prescribed period.
The association said it is also engaging legal teams to secure the journalist’s freedom and ensure that his rights are protected.

The continued detention has renewed concerns among journalists and press freedom advocates about the treatment of media practitioners who report on sensitive matters involving government institutions and public officials.