Congo-Kinshasa: Armed Men Threaten, Rob Exiled DR Congo Journalist in Uganda

What the report says

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Ugandan authorities should protect exiled Congolese journalist John Zihindula Bwirabwanda after armed men broke into his home in Uganda and threatened to kill him. According to CPJ, the men also stole his computer, phones, money and immigration papers during the early-morning incident, which Zihindula said happened on August 1.

CPJ said Zihindula, who previously worked for Radio Svein in Bukavu in South Kivu province, moved to Uganda in April after repeated arrest threats linked to his reporting and social media posts about the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He told the organization that the attackers referenced his journalism and warned him to stop posting news online. Two neighbors later confirmed the attack to CPJ on condition of anonymity.

The report comes amid wider pressure on journalists from eastern DRC, where many have fled after fighting intensified in North and South Kivu in early 2025. CPJ said violence and intimidation have been used to suppress reporting by actors in the conflict. Zihindula said he reported the assault to local officials, who contacted police, but the status of any investigation remained unclear as of August 6, when CPJ followed up with authorities. The case highlights the risks faced by reporters even after crossing borders into exile.