By Hannah Marion Namukasa
As Uganda joined the rest of the world to mark the 32nd World Press Freedom Day, journalists under their umbrella body, the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), declared they will boycott coverage of the 2026 general elections unless the Electoral Commission addresses persistent violations of press freedom and guarantees journalist safety during electoral periods.
“We will not cover the 2026 general elections if you do not guarantee our security and well-being,” said UJA President Mathias Rukundo during the celebrations held at Emerald Hotel, Kampala.
Mathias Rukundo statement echoed mounting frustration from media professionals over continued harassment by security forces while covering election-related events. Journalists criticized the Electoral Commission for what they termed as persistent inaction and indifference toward the abuses faced by the media.
In response, Electoral Commission spokesperson Julius Mucunguzi acknowledged the journalists’ grievances and expressed a willingness to engage.
“We cannot envisage a credible and transparent election without the contribution of a free, independent, and professional media,” he said, urging dialogue over boycott threats. “If the government could talk to Kony, how can it be impossible for journalists to talk to the UPDF or Uganda Police Force?”
Veteran journalist Richard Baguma used the occasion to rally media professionals around unity and resilience.
“You must organize and stop agonizing,” he said, urging them to proactively defend their rights rather than wait for concessions.
Baguma also encouraged journalists to adopt emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to improve reporting efficiency. However, Roline Nassuna, Communications Executive at Protection Defenders, warned about the misuse of AI, particularly in spreading misinformation through fake audio and imagery. She emphasized the importance of rigorous fact-checking to uphold media credibility.
