IGANGA, UGANDA: Journalists and media practitioners in Iganga district have been commended for exhibiting unity amongst themselves and were advised to upgrade such that they widen their capacity to grab juicy opportunities.
This call was made by the woman member of parliament for Iganga district, Hon Sauda Kauma Alibaawo who was the chief guest on Saturday during the celebrations of world press freedom day and launching their association called Iganga Journalists Association (IJA), aimed at bringing together all journalists in the district and extra.
At the function which took place at Iganga district headquarters, Hon Kauma said that maintaining unity and upgrading in the profession is very important since it attracts more opportunities.
“I want to commend you for this organization. Ever since I have been in Iganga, this is the first time for me to see you doing a joint celebration. Thank you for this unity and I hope this will continue keeping you together and developing you,”
“I want also to urge you that if you’re in this profession and your qualifications are still low, please upgrade because it helps us and it helps you. You may get an opportunity for example I see many journalists employed in parliament because of their qualifications. Imagine one day if I’m appointed minister for ICT and I prefer to employ journalists from my area, do you see how qualifications can kick you out,” Hon Kauma said.
Hon Alibaawo also warned journalists against computer misuse saying that parliament is yet to introduce a new bill to amend the computer misuse act.
“When we were at Kololo, Rt Hon Speaker Anita Among said they are preparing a bill in the next session of parliament and said that we shall have an amendment bill of computer misuse. I have to inform you about it because you operate on social media and many other channels and I urge you to serve professionally and not involve hatred in your reporting,” Alibaawo added.
Kigulu south MP, Hon Muwuma Milton urged journalists to report credible information citing that they are protected by the constitution and should report such information without any external interference but avoid reporting with hatred against individuals and institutions.
“I want to commend you, salute you, upon this day that thank you for reaching this day and coming together. Whenever you’re united as reporters or journalists, we shall move on and no one can either break or intimidate you when you’re doing the right thing,”
“I want to request you that whenever you’re a reporter and you have a credible story and have the source, please feel free to report because you’re protected by the constitution but it is not good to report with hatred because you don’t like someone or the government, please report objectively and you will not kill your name,” Hon Muwuma said.
Abubaker Lubowa, a former contestant of the Uganda Journalist’s Association (UJA) presidency warned journalists against being handbags for politicians and said that politicians should as well know that Journalists are not their property.
“What has killed journalism is to become handbags for politicians and as well politicians to think that we are their property. You’re with the politician saying my boss yet you have your boss at your media house. He will never respect you and the day you leave that radio station, that’s where your relationship stops because you will be of no value to him.
I’m trying to advise you not to accept to be used by anyone,” Mr Lubowa said before blaming security for the unnecessary iron hand directed to journalists most of the times when they execute their daily work.
Lubowa also advised journalists to report objectively without any personal or political bias.
“When you get a byte from someone with a red beret and you need to balance the story with the RDC for example, please go there because he or she is serving a community that has different political beliefs,” Lubowa said.
The chairperson of Iganga Journalists Association (IJA), Kigobero Wilson said that they came up with the association to bring together all journalists in unity and pursue development jointly.
“This association was formed last year in 2021 to bring together journalists and move on principles of our profession. We also aim at our mission of promoting unity and professionalism among members so as to contribute to the positive change towards the public interest,” Kigobero said.
He also advised journalists to focus on the association motto of ‘A pen for a reason and produce the necessary information for public consumption.
“Are we producing what the public expects of us, as an editor how are you using the pen in presenting information to the public, why should the public doubt us as journalists?” Kigobero questioned.
Busoga East Police Spokesperson SP Diana Nandawula called upon journalists to be disciplined while working with security and avoid provoking officers at work.
“Most of the times you can’t find OC station or RPC pulling ropes with journalists but our junior officers are sometimes abused by journalists, despised and others throw bad words against them, so journalists must think about it. Another thing, some journalists behaves like commandos in the field and turns down any guidance by the field commanders,” SP Nandawula said.
The function attracted a number of people both from the media fraternity and outside who included among others, the RDC Iganga Wandera Sadala, district information officer Saire Daniel, Kiira regional police PRO ASP James Mubi, Iganga district boss Gabula Ezera, Mayor Iganga municipality Bamu Lulenzi, DPC Iganga SP Muhairwe Kenneth.
Others in attendance were NRM district boss Hajji Walubi Abubakar, Vice President Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda (HRNJ) Ms Jackie Namboga, speaker Iganga municipality Sengoba Musa, Veteran journalists i.e Sir Simon Muyanga Lutaya, Moses Lwokyaza, Willy Basoga Kadama, among others.
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