Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda) is a network of journalists in Uganda working towards enhancing the promotion, protection, and respect of human rights through defending and building the capacities of journalists, to effectively exercise their constitutional rights and fundamental freedoms for collective campaigning through the media.
HRNJ-Uganda was established in 2005 by a group of journalists who had developed a sense of activism, and it was formally registered as an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan media organization in 2006. The identity of HRNJ-Uganda lies in its diverse membership of journalists from both print and electronic media as well as freelance investigative journalists and students.
Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda is the leading journalists and media practitioners’ network in Uganda whose core business is to promote and protect the rights and freedoms of journalists, media practitioners, and institutions as provided for in the Uganda constitution and international statutes:
HRNJ-Uganda designed appropriate strategies to ensure that female, veteran and disabled journalists are given a chance to participate fully and benefit. HRNJ-Uganda members are fully committed to gender equity and equality. HRNJ-Uganda believes that by working together, journalists will be able to impact greatly on the status of human rights within Uganda. As a membership organization, it is vital that all activities and interactions of the HRNJ-Uganda are conducted in a manner that ensures transparency and accountability to its stakeholders.
We endeavor to provide medical and psycho-social support to media practitioners injured in the course of their duty. Through training and educating journalists on various thematic issues, we enhance their competence and capacities on human rights and good governance.
‘Enhancing the promotion, protection and respect of the rights of journalists and media freedoms through research, advocacy, legal support, capacity building, and emergency support’
HRNJ-Uganda objectives include;
- To promote and protect human rights as provided for in the regional and international instruments that Uganda is party to and as provided in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda through the media.
- To mobilize, unite and represent human rights journalists on matters of common interest.
- To work together as human rights journalists seeking to achieve goals of empowering the public in creating a platform to demand for a non violent, corruption free and human rights observing society.
- To work together with judicial organs, civil society organizations, regional and international organs to bring peace and harmony.
- To build the professional capacity of human rights journalists through training, research, reporting and technical skills acquisition.
Since 2006, Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda has achieved tremendous success in advocating for the rights of journalists in Uganda. The organisation has empowered journalists and media practitioners and many their skills have been enhanced to effectively do their work in a safe manner.
HRNJ-Uganda has been recognised by different actors and organisation for being at the fore front of defending media freedoms in Uganda. It has received various awards together