Uganda Journalists Association Criticizes Government for Neglecting Journalists’ Rights and Exploitation Issues

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), the umbrella body that represents journalists in the country, has condemned the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for neglecting journalists’ concerns, including exploitation and rights violations.

At a press conference held at the Speke Hotel in Kampala, Mathias Rukundo, the UJA president, expressed his disappointment over the government’s lack of attention to the growing threats against press freedom in Uganda. He outlined the increasing challenges faced by journalists, including exploitation, layoffs, and other forms of rights violations.

During the event to announce the joint activities for World Press Freedom Day, scheduled for May 3, 2024, Rukundo revealed that over 100 journalists had lost their jobs by the end of January 2024, with many media houses citing economic difficulties as the reason for these layoffs. He pointed out that newsrooms across the country are empty due to forced resignations and departures caused by intimidation and the hostile work environment.

Rukundo criticized the ICT Ministry officials for not addressing these injustices and urged them to take responsibility for ensuring journalists’ rights are upheld. He suggested that if the officials are not willing to intervene, they should be replaced by those who will fulfill their obligations.

“The ICT Ministry officials should know that addressing injustices faced by journalists is not a favor; it is their obligatory duty. If they can’t salvage this situation, they should resign or be replaced with others who will serve with care. Otherwise, our profession is at risk of extinction because of their ‘I don’t care’ attitude and selfishness,” Rukundo said.

While acknowledging the economic challenges, Rukundo noted that they should not be used to justify the exploitation of journalists. He emphasized that this exploitation has been a longstanding issue and must be addressed before it worsens.

Rukundo also appealed to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to expedite the government’s commitment to capitalizing the UJA SACCO, as promised during his February 11, 2023, meeting with journalists at Kyambogo. This capitalization, Rukundo believes, will help address some of the exploitation concerns within the media sector.

Additionally, Rukundo shared details about the upcoming World Press Freedom Day celebrations, which will include the Modern-Day Heroes Awards, recognizing individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the media sector, the country, and the environment. The event will take place on May 3, 2024, with UJA’s partners and participants.

To promote press freedom, UJA has adopted sports, including football, as a tool for advocacy. A Football Gala is scheduled for May 5, 2024, at City High Secondary School in Kampala. The event will feature teams from various media houses, non-media organizations, and other partners.

Other activities to commemorate World Press Freedom Day include tree planting through the UJA Initiative on Environment, aimed at promoting environmental conservation and reinforcing the role of journalism in democracy, governance, and human rights.

Overall, UJA’s activities for World Press Freedom Day aim to raise awareness of the importance of press freedom in Uganda and to encourage the government, development partners, and other stakeholders to recommit to these ideals.