Foreign correspondents concerned about arrest of American journalist

By Foreign Correspondents' Association of Uganda (FCAU)

KAMPALA, Uganda, July 26, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Foreign Correspondents' Association of Uganda (FCAU) is concerned about the detention and planned deportation of American journalist Taylor Krauss.


Krauss says he was visiting Uganda to film the first parts of a possible television documentary. He was arrested by security personnel on Tuesday while covering the arrest of opposition figure Kizza Besigye in central Kampala, and has been detained since. He says his camera equipment and laptop were confiscated, and later returned with his video files deleted. He is expected to be deported today on a flight from Entebbe airport at 2300.


Krauss had not applied for journalist accreditation from the Uganda Media Centre, as required by the Government. FCAU recognises this breach of Government regulations, but believes Krauss's arrest, prolonged detention, confiscation of equipment and the erasing of his data were excessive responses, and not in line with the fundamentals of press freedom.


Krauss has visible bruising on the little finger of his right hand, an injury which he says was inflicted by the arresting officer. He says thereafter he was not mistreated in detention. He is the first foreign journalist to be detained and deported from Uganda in many years. He is not a member of FCAU.


FCAU urges every visiting journalist, or Uganda-based journalist working for foreign news media, to obtain the correct documentation before starting work in the country.


FCAU is professional association for Uganda and foreign journalists, working in Uganda, for foreign news media. Website: www.fcau.org