This statement was originally published on gmepa.com on 14th December 2015.
By Augustus Bigirwenkya
The chairperson board of directors Human Rights Network for Journalists (HNRJ) Uganda, Julius Esegu has appealed to the general public to know that media remains part and partial of governance of Uganda as a country and therefore members of the public and the state should permit journalist to fully enjoy their rights.
Esegu expressed his appeal on Friday while addressing journalists from different parts of the country who subscribe to HRNJ Uganda during their annual general meeting that took place at Pope Paul memorial hotel in Rubaga-Kampala.
Esegu noted that, the challenge to defend media and journalists’ rights for effective realization of freedom of expression and information in the country is every one’s role and therefore all people must not give up since it is fundamental in entrenching democracy and governance in the country.
Esegu held that, there are some people who are trying to perpetuate and bring down HRNJ Uganda by overshadowing the activities of journalists something that can’t be taken for granted.
Egesu implored his colleagues to work together in consolidating the achievements made by HRNJ Uganda to addressing challenges they are going through as individuals up to the level of organizations adding that the contributions journalists are making will not fall on rocky soil but will be documented as part of the history for the country whose governance issues are grappling.
Egesu stated that, initiatives that are generated as a group rarely fail and the network of journalists forms a cornerstone upon which media freedom in the country can be sustained and protected at all times hence a need for commitment, unity and support to initiatives that brings all journalists together so that a legacy can be created for future generation to be able to pick issues that will be emulated for journalism fraternity.
Robert Ssempala, the national coordinator for HRNJ Uganda identified lack of transport as the biggest challenge for the Network something that puts employees at risk of being spied on by perpetrators of crime against journalists since they are currently using public means.
He encouraged journalists to renew their annual subscription fees and the new ones to join so that they can be able to befit from the services of the organization like training, free legal representation among others.
