Danish environmental journalist, explorer and researcher Klaus Thymann has been arrested in Kampala,Uganda over allegations linked to his work in the Rwenzori Mountains, with police expected to transfer the case to Kasese district where the alleged offences are said to have occurred.
Thymann was arrested while engaging Ugandan authorities over permits relating to his environmental research, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Police sources said the Danish national is currently being held at Kira Road Police Station as investigations continue.
By press time, police had not publicly disclosed the charges against him or the specific offences under investigation.
The arrest has drawn attention from international conservation and media circles, with observers expressing concern over its potential implications for scientific research and environmental journalism in Uganda.
Thymann is an award-winning environmental journalist, filmmaker and explorer known for documenting the effects of climate change and environmental degradation around the world. His work has focused extensively on Africa, particularly the shrinking glaciers of the Rwenzori Mountains, where he has collaborated with scientists to document the impact of rising temperatures on one of Africa’s last remaining tropical glaciers.
His research and documentaries have highlighted the ecological significance of the Rwenzori ecosystem and the challenges posed by climate change to communities that depend on its water resources.
Although the circumstances surrounding his arrest remain unclear, the incident is attracting international scrutiny attention.
The arrest also comes at a time when Uganda is facing heightened international attention over press freedom and civic space following recent actions against journalists, media organisations and civil society actors.
“He was arrested and the matter is still under investigation,” Bashir Hangi, Head of Communications and Public Relations at Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA.
Authorities are yet to issue a detailed official statement explaining the basis of Thymann’s arrest, while it remains unclear when he will be arraigned in court or formally charged.
