Kampala, 3rd/December/2012; Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) has held its 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) with a call from journalists to regionalize interventions as a way to address increasing violations in the countryside. The meeting that saw an increase of members from 100 members in last year AGM to over 150 fully subscribed members was held on Saturday 1st, 2012 at Hotel Triangle, Kampala.
The call follows an outcry from countryside members who have experienced attacks from different perpetrators ranging from politicians, security agencies to members of the public among others.
In addition to the above, members took stock of previous year’s activities and made resolutions for the upcoming year.
The AGM stands as one of the major internal governance undertakings to improve HRNJ-U’s governance and stability as it navigates its course meant to realize its set mandate.
Among the major outcomes that members proposed were;
· Regionalize interventions to address the plight of locally based journalists
· Recruiting more organizations and Media Agencies to the Network
· Exploring cross border partnerships and exchanges relevant in sharing of best practices and experience
· Increasing the Membership subscription fees so that the Network stabilizes its financial status
· Rescheduling the dates of the AGM from the later part of the year to Mid- year periods
And as the meeting came to the end, a member of the Network demonstrated an act of generosity and solidarity to the organization by donating a personal car to help secretariat expedite its duties on a temporary basis up until the organization purchases its own car.
HRNJ-U remains committed to strengthening its internal structures and programmes to widely contend with the challenges facing journalists in the country. By setting up these structures, the Network is establishing a firm base of addressing needs of journalists and promoting general human rights in Uganda in a stable and sustainable manner.
“It hasn’t been easy for us to make to this and wish to appreciate all those helping the Network move in this direction especially members and development partners whose input has immeasurably contributed to growth and development of the institution” Said, Mulindwa Mukasa, HRNJ-Uganda Board Chairperson.
