Kampala, March 3, 2025 – The Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is closely monitoring the recent developments concerning the media in Uganda, particularly the meeting convened by the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) on February 27, 2025.
This meeting brought together key stakeholders, including security agencies and CEOs of media houses, to discuss various aspects of media operations.
HRNJ-Uganda is an independent, not-for-profit media rights organization established in 2005 that promotes and protects the rights and freedoms of journalists, media practitioners, and institutions in Uganda.
As Nelson Mandela said, “A critical, independent, and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.”
We acknowledge the UCC’s role in regulating media operations, as mandated by Article 148 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. Equally, Uganda’s Constitution guarantees freedom of the press and media through Article 29 and Article 41(1). According to Article 41(1), “Every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media.”
Additionally, Article 29 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 guarantees the protection of individual rights, including freedom of the press and media. These articles collectively ensure that the media in Uganda can operate freely, promoting a vibrant and active media landscape in the country.
However, we are concerned with the recent resolution to send CEOs, media managers, and news heads to the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwazi for a “specialized training program”, ostensibly aimed at fostering “responsible journalism- factual, balanced, and ethical reporting that upholds peace and national stability.”
In this instance, we find the UCC is overstretching its mandate. It should strike the delicate balance of regulating the media but also leave the media to freely operate. Given that, we are particularly concerned with the proposed NALI media training course for the following reasons;
- It has come to our notice that there would be a specialized training whose objectives and goals have the potential to result in the co-optation and manipulation of journalists and media houses.
ii) Loss of objectivity: We opine that participation in specialized training may compromise journalists’ objectivity and impartiality.
iii) Conflict of interest: By participating in specialized training, we feel that journalists may feel obligated to report favorably to the government, creating a potential conflict of interest when it comes to executing its oversight role.
iv) Access and favoritism: Journalists who attend specialized training, like the one being proposed, may gain preferential access to government sources and information at the expense of the voices of dissent.
v) Self-censorship: Journalists attending specialized training could engage in self-censorship and its dire effects on a free press repercussions.
Vi) Monopolization and creation of government-controlled media, which is against the core principle of a liberalized media dispensation, unlike today where there is media pluralism.
Considering Uganda’s upcoming 2026 elections, which require fair reporting and unbiased news dissemination, we urge the Government, through the UCC, to rescind this resolution till after the general elections of 2026.
Furthermore, it contravenes international standards for independent media, which is a cornerstone of any thriving democracy.
We appeal to the Government to respect the principles of media freedom, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19), and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 9).
We believe that a free and independent media is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Uganda.
Recommendations;
To promote patriotic journalism without compromising media independence, we propose the following:
- Instead of taking key media stakeholders to instill patriotism, the government should urgently work around proper regulation of the sector through adopting multifaceted media regulatory models where both government and private regulatory models co-exist.
- That the government should adopt giving incentives to both government and private media houses to promote patriotic and professional journalism
- We urge the UCC and key stakeholders to conduct a thorough impact assessment to know the implications of the proposed specialized training program on media freedom, independence, and pluralism in Uganda.
- We recommend that the UCC and government engage in open and inclusive discussions with media houses, journalists, and civil society organizations to ensure that any regulatory measures or training programs align with international standards for independent media and respect the principles of media freedom.
- Also, attending this training should not be a compulsory undertaking for all media managers and journalists but an option
We hope that our opinions and reservations to the proposed training will be taken in good faith
For God and My Country
Robert Ssempala, Executive Director
