Nation Media Group and NTV Uganda correspondent John Kenneth Odele, also known as Ken Odelle, was arrested on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, while covering a high-level security meeting in Soroti City. The meeting, convened by Minister of Security Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Jim Muhwezi Katugugu, brought together intelligence officers from across Teso, including GISOs, DISOs, and other personnel. Odele was picked up at Soroti University and subsequently taken to Soroti City Central Police Station.
The security meeting was part of Muhwezi's nationwide engagements, focusing on monitoring government projects, identifying service-delivery gaps, and combating corruption. Odele, a longstanding NTV/NMG correspondent in the Teso region, was performing his normal duties when he was arrested. Soroti City East Division Police Commander Godfrey Byaruhanga stated that authorities were still verifying the circumstances surrounding the arrest, but no charges had been publicly identified.
The incident occurred amid heightened political and security tensions in Teso, following the detention of former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Peter Elwelu. Current CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has accused Elwelu of subversive activities. This development has raised concerns over press freedom in Uganda's Teso sub-region.
On November 6, Iteso Cultural Union leaders petitioned President Museveni, warning of eroding trust between the sub-region and the central government. The petition cited issues including regional equity, delayed pledges, land disputes, and actions targeting prominent local figures such as Elwelu and former Speaker Anita Among.
Media practitioners have expressed growing unease over the arrest. On November 7, Uganda Journalists Association President Emmanuel Kirunda called on authorities to respect press freedom, emphasizing that journalists working in fear cannot effectively fulfill their watchdog role. The incident has drawn attention online and in local media, with observers noting the timing amid broader regional sensitivities.
As of the latest available reports, police had not publicly clarified the precise reasons for Odele's detention or linked it formally to the meeting's content. The episode has sparked concerns about the operating environment for journalists in eastern Uganda, particularly in the context of security operations and regional politics.
Updates on Odele's status and any official explanation from police or the Ministry of Security were still pending at the time of reporting. The incident remains a developing story, highlighting the intersection of security operations, regional politics, and press freedom in Uganda.
Key points
- The arrest of journalist Ken Odelle has raised concerns over press freedom in Uganda's Teso sub-region.
- The incident occurred amid heightened political and security tensions in Teso.
- Media practitioners have expressed growing unease over the arrest, calling for respect for press freedom.
