By Mukembo Wilfred
The umbrella body that unites journalists in the country, Uganda Journalists Association UJA has lashed at the Ministry of ICT and National guidance officials for deliberately not attending to the scribes’ plight and concerns including their exploitation and other rights violations.
While unveiling to the press at Speke hotel, Kampala, the joint arrangements and activities for the World Press Freedom Day scheduled for 3rd May, under the theme: A Press for the Planet, Journalism in the face of Environmental Crisis, Mathias Rukundo the UJA president expressed concern over the increased threats and challenges against the press freedom and media sector in Uganda including exploitation and other rights violation.
Rukundo said more than 100 journalists have been laid off work as of January 2024 and Friday 26 April 2024 by different media houses citing the economic hardships in the country. Adding that the news rooms of most media houses are now almost empty as a result of intimidation, forced resignations and departures arising out of the same painful experience.
Rukundo lashed at the ICT and National Guidance ministry for deliberately giving a deaf ear to the journalists’ plight.
“The ICT ministry officials should know that by making necessary interventions against injustices as and when are occasioned on journalists are not doing any of us a favor, but simply exercising their obligatory duty. If they can’t salvage this situation, they should then immediately resign or even be replaced with others that will serve with care, by the appointing authority, to redeem our dear profession that is destined to extinction because of the I don’t care attitude and selfishness.
While the economy is faced with challenges, it cannot be used as justification for the sackings since the exploitation of journalists has been around here for long with impunity, and therefore, must stop before the worse becomes the worst.” Said Rukundo
Mathias Rukundo also appealed to President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to fast track the process of government’s capitalization of the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) SACCO as per his February 11th 2023, Kyambogo meeting with journalists, like it has been done with other professionals.
He believes that it will alternatively and partly help with addressing the exploitation plight.
Rukundo highlighted some of the activities that will be conducted in commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day which will include giving out the Modern-Day Heroes Awards in recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations that have made enormous contribution turning around the landscape of media sector, country and environment/ climate.
This will be observed on Friday 3rd May 2024, WPFD on an event with all the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) partners.
Journalists will also hold a Football Gala that will be participated in by various media house teams across the country, media organizations and non-media organizations.
UJA adopted sports including football as a new innovative tool of advocacy for press freedom since sport is a unifier of all players that are charged with the duty of ensuring the enjoyment of press freedom in Uganda. He revealed among those already registered include the judiciary.
The event will be held on Sunday 5th May 2024, at City High Secondary School playground near DHL offices Lugogo by pass- Kampala, 8:00 am -5:30 pm. All participating teams are requested to register with our organizing team at a fee of 50,000 shs. Only- media houses/ organizations and 200,000 shs, for non-media houses via 0775 271 777 and 0755 339 947, to help with preparations.
Other activities include Tree Planting under its department UJA initiative on environment together with its partners of My Tree Initiative. This is in line with the theme, with an overarching objective of advancing the press freedom in Uganda and advocate for the pivotal role of journalism in environmental conservation and other aspects such as democracy, good governance, patriotism, human rights, socio economic transformation, development.
Rukundo said through various organized activities, the initiative seeks to reinvigorate the government, development partners and other stakeholder’s re commitment to the ideals of press freedom and those highlighted aspects..
