Celebrated Citizen TV journalists Stephen Letoo and Seth Olale have been banned by the government from covering any news relating to parliamentary proceedings from the parliament.
This was disclosed today by Stephen Letoo, who further revealed that the action was taken by the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula.
This is because of what the talented journalists did on Tuesday, June 25th, when anti-government protestors breached the walls of Parliament and destroyed it in an action that they termed ‘Occupy Parliament’.
They protestors did so after being frustrated by how the Members of Parliament had resolved to pass the now withdrawn Finance Bill of 2024, that many viewed to be punitive.
During that time, Stephen Letoo and Seth Olale were among the journalists who covered the story.
Seth Olale in particular even went inside the Parliament buildings and showed the whole world how the place was just a mess, after the demonstrators managed to get in and destroyed almost everything.
He also showed how the MPs managed to escape as they ran for their safety through some tunnel that was in Parliament.
Taking to his X account today however, Stephen Letoo revealed that apart from him and Seth Olale being banned, a decision was made to also remove the journalists from covering parliamentary businesses while inside the building.
From now onwards, they will be doing it while outside.
“So now @HonWetangula National Assembly Speaker and PSC chair wants to KICK OUT Journalists Covering Parliament from the Precincts (Media Centre) on grounds we are a source of ‘insecurity to MPs’ following #OccupyParliament coverage! If N.A wants blackout, Senate wants transparency” he wrote.
Stephen Letoo added:
“Other than relocation of Parliamentary Journalists to Outside Parliament, there is a resolution to BAN some journalists myself included who Covered #OccupyParliament from stepping in the new area. Seth Olale who exposed the MPs escape tunnel also banned”.
The disclosure has however elicited an uproar from netizens, because they saw this move as a return to the dark days when the freedom of the media was curtailed by the ruling class.
By Newshub