Higenyi, a student at the United Media Consultants and Trainers, was
killed while covering a rally in the capital, Kampala, organized by the
opposition Uganda Peoples’ Congress. He had been assigned the story as
part of his journalism coursework.
The government
had banned the gathering under Article 269 of the constitution, which
outlaws all political activity in the country. A few moments after a
large group of people gathered at the rally’s venue, the police fired
into the crowd, hitting Higenyi. He died instantly.
The inspector general of police, Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala, apologized
for Higenyi’s death and said that the police take full responsibility.
But at year’s end, no disciplinary action had been taken against the
officers involved in the shooting.