By Our Reporters
The National Mechanism on
Safety of Uganda Journalists in
conjunction with the Uganda
National Commission for UNESCO
organized stakeholders’ workshop
on journalists’ safety on August 3,
2023 at Kampala’s National Theatre.
The following day (August 4, 2023)
a General meeting of stakeholders
was convened under the auspices of
the National Mechanism on Safety of
Journalists Coordinating Committee
chaired by Uganda Journalists Union
and Co – chaired by Uganda Journalists
Association (UJA), Human Rights
Network for Journalists (HRNJ) and
Uganda Media Women’s Association
(UMWA).
The workshop and meeting was the
last activity of the project. Four regional
workshops were conducted one on
June 13, 2023 in Mbale for Eastern
Uganda, another on June 15, 2023 in
Arua, West Nile region, the third on
July 20, 2023 in Mbarara for Western
Uganda. The last workshop was held
on August 3, 2023. and Stakeholders
meeting on August 4, 2023.
The workshops were conducted
by a three – team training team led by
Dr Emily Maratcho, while the other
trainer was Uganda Journalists Union
(UJU) General Secretary Mr Stephen
Ouma Bwire assisted and coordinated
by Uganda National Commission for
UNESCO Communications Officer
Ms Pauline Achola.
Members discussed Freedom of
Expression, Access to Information,
and Safety of journalists.
The workshop which was organized
with support from the Uganda
National Commission for UNESCO,
drew participants from the Uganda
Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF),
Uganda Police Force, political leaders,
religious leaders, trade unionists,
media owners, Editors, Lawyers and
journalists, among others.
The objective of the workshop was to
create awareness and foster mechanism
on how to dialogue on matters
pertaining to safety of journalists by
ensuring Prevention of Crimes against
journalists, Protecting journalists and
Prosecution of perpetrators of crimes
against journalists.
During the workshops in Mbale,
Arua, Mbarara and Kaampala
participants emphasised need to work
with all stakeholders especially the
police which is emp;owered to keep
law and order and to prrotect citizens
and their property.
Members identified impediments
faced and discussed means and ways
of revamping the National Mechanism
on Safety of Journalists in Uganda.
They noted poor pay and exploitation
of journalists especially freelance
journalists , unethical conduct by
some media oweners, journalists and
disc jockeys (djs), pathetic condictions
of work with no employment
contracts and appointment letters.
Stakeholders also noted promotion
of brown envelops, lack of editorial
independence, political interference
and influence by adverstising
companies in media houses.
Stakeholders called on media owners
to interest themselves on matters
pertaining to safety of journalists .
Lack of a media wage has eroded
motivation hence dwindling
professional standards. But the fact
that most media houses are owned
by either government officials or
proprietors linked to the ruling
National Resistence Movement (NRM)
has shifted public debate , muzzled
divergent views and in a long run
tilted punlic opinion in favour of
government views.
Journalists discussed collaboration
with all stakeholders and called
on media owners through Editors
to provide safety measures at
worksplaces to protect journalists.
Mr John Baptist Imokola, a journalism
Lecturer at Makerere University
Mass Communication department
castigated media owners who value
equipment more than the journalists
who hold the gadgets.
He said: ” We cannot effect safety
measures and protect journalists
when media owners value equipment
more than the human beings who hold
them.”
Mr Imokola called on journalists
to desist from unthical conduct
and to always seek the truth by
applying objectivity and responsible
conduct in gathering, processing
anddissemination of information.
The Secretary General National
Commission for UNESCO Ms
Rosie Agoi said the project under
implementation is dubbed” Promotion
of Freedom of Expression, Safety of
journalists and Access to Information
in Uganda.
She said the objective of the project
is to create awareness among key
stakeholders on the importance of
safety of journalists and fighting issues
of impunity.
stakeholders on the importance
of safety of journalists and fighting
.issues of impunity.
“We aim to build the national
capacity to promote safety of journalists
and mitigate issues of impunity for
crimes committed against journalists
and other media workers,” She said.
Stakeholders were in agreement
that there has been a growing trend
of harassment and intimidation of
journalists during demonstrations or
even during electioneering where the
media is attacked with impunity.
Uganda Police Force Public Relations
Officer in Charge of Social Media ASP
Mariam Nankinga said he office is
enjoying cordial relationship with the
media.
She said information available
is always accessable to the media
and they offer information to the
journalists to disseminate to the public
.
” We think that its prudent for the
media access information required to
disseminate to the public,” she said.
But ASP Mariam warned journalists
not to misuse the relative press freedom
through irresponsible conduct where
the media sometimes promotes hate
speech and secterianism.
Uganda Journalists Union (UJU)
General Secretary Mr Stephen Ouma
Bwire said under the National
Mechanism on Safety of Journalists
key stakeholders in the media industry
are lobbied to a dialogue on matters
pertaining to safety of journalists.
He said there have been escalating
cases of violence and repression
directed at members of the media by
security agencies especially the army
and police and ordinary individuals
in the course of their work.
He said:” Members of the security
agencies who commit crimes against
journalists risk being prosecuted
in their individual capacities”.
“Under the mechanism we address
Prevention of crimes against
journalist, protection of journalists and
Prosecution of perpetrators of crimes
against journalists ,” he said.
Head of Journalism at Uganda
Christian University(UCU) Dr Emily
Maractho and Chief trainer , called
on participants to use freedom of
expression which is one of the
fundamental freedoms, to advance
developments in society.
She said Freedom of expression
will never be a monopoly of
media practitioners alone but is a
constitutional right for all stakeholders
and individuals in the Ugandan
society.
Dr Maractho called on journalists to
take safety as a significant component
in their profession and to always
adhere to code of ethics .
UNESCO official Ms Pauline Achola
” Always remember that Freedom
of Expression is not a preserve for the
media but a constitutional right for all
individuals. Ensure that you practice
journalism following professional
code of ethics,” She said.
Participants at Mbale, Arua,
Mbarara and Kampala workshops
overwhelmingly endorsed the muilti –
stakeholders’ approach of the national
mechanism for the safety of journalists.
The system creates turst, cohesion and
a sense of belonging that is devoid of
duplication of programs and unifies
members.
UJU, UJA, HRNJ, UMWA ELECTED ON
MECHANISM COMMIITTEE
Stakeholders on the National
Mechanism for the Safety of
Ugandan journalists democractically
unanimously resolved to give mandate
and retain the same Coordinating
committee for the next two years
2023 – 2025 with Uganda Journalists
Union as Focal Point (Chair). UJU will
Co – chair with Uganda Journalists
Association (UJA) , Human Rights Network
for Journalists (HRNJ) and Uganda
Media Women’s Association (UMWA) ■
