Masaka City Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Washaki Ahamada has urged government communication officers to actively shape the national narrative by sharing timely and accurate information, warning that failure to do so leaves room for misinformation and public despair.
Ahamada was speaking at the opening of a two-day strategic retreat for District Communication Officers (DCOs) and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) of the Greater Masaka region and Greater Mpigi held at Zebra Hotel from 4th to 5th June 2025. Organized by the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance in collaboration with the Internal Security Organisation (ISO) and Government Citizens Interaction Centre (GCIC), the retreat seeks to bridge the gap between communication and security to strengthen public trust and social stability.
Ahamada passionately welcomed the delegates, thanking the Director General of ISO Mr. Mugyenyi Arthur and the President of Uganda for hosting the retreat in Masaka. “This is an opportunity to redefine our relevance,” he said, referring to his own transformation after witnessing the success of similar initiatives in regions like Teso and Karamoja. “Information is what every institution uses to deliver on its mandate. We must leverage this platform to amplify the truth for socio-economic development of Uganda as a country,” he said.
The RCC said that security operations rely heavily on information, citing the neutralization of a terrorist plot during Martyrs’ Day celebrations as a direct outcome of coordinated intelligence and strategic communication. “We had a threat, we acted, we informed and people felt safe,” he explained.
Ahamada further stressed the need to challenge false narratives and bring positive stories to light. Recalling a conversation with a local pharmacy owner, he noted, “Government hospitals have stock, but business is slow because the truth isn’t being told. If we don’t speak, the public assumes the worst,” he noted.
He called on officers to harness the power of social and digital media to tell greater Masaka’s story truthfully and boldly. “Create visibility. Be daring. Make noise with facts,” he urged.
Major Edmund from ISO provided context on the agency’s role in curbing internal threats, including terrorism, corruption, and negative media. He reminded participants that ISO was deliberately engaging with district communication officers because negative narratives hinder development, insisting that most of the government’s initiatives are implemented at district level. “Security and communication must work hand in hand to restore hope and drive investment,” he said.
The retreat also explored expectations around improved working relationships, clarified the distinct yet collaborative roles of DISOs and District Communicators, and encouraged mindset shifts away from populism toward results oriented communication. Discussions in the retreat include leveraging AI tools, aligning communication with government service delivery, and reinforcing the importance of strategic storytelling in both local and national contexts.
Participants are expected to return to their districts with renewed purpose, armed with tools and strategies to tell the truth louder and better.
This engagement follows a series of other retreats organized by ISO, Ministry of ICT &NG, GCIC in partnership with Government Communicators Forum (GCOF) which were held in Karamoja, Teso, West Nile and Mbarara regions with an aim at revamping the communication function from district grassroots to foster destination developments, government project awareness and investment opportunities to the world.
