Media owners have been urged to embrace responsible journalism by ensuring accuracy, patriotism, and national unity in their content.
This comes in response to increasing concerns about media misuse, with authorities cautioning that it could incite hate speech, provoke violence, and jeopardize national security.
During a meeting with media directors organized by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) on Thursday, February 27, 2025, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, through his representative Hon. Balaam Barugahara, emphasized the need for media houses to align their reporting with national interests.
“Media freedom is guaranteed, but it must not be used to destabilize the country. We must ensure that what we publish is factual, responsible, and does not threaten our peace,” Barugahara stated.
UCC Executive Director Hon. Nyombi Thembo clarified that the government is not against the media showing what is happening in the country but warned against hate speech.
“Nobody is saying don’t show what is happening. What we are saying is don’t go in for hate speech. Journalists and media workers, whenever they are behind the microphone, must know that on top of the UCC Act, there is something called national security,” he stated.
Authorities cited past events where media played a destructive role, including the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and the Arab Spring uprisings.
“History has shown us the devastating consequences of reckless media practices. We cannot sit back and allow similar threats to take root in Uganda,” Barugahara warned.
Opinions among media stakeholders, however, were mixed. While some participants supported the initiative, others raised doubts about its necessity. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) expressed that while they would not oppose the move, they did not see it as a remedy for hate speech.
“We are making a mistake to assume the reason there is hate speech circulating across the country is related to people not being patriotic. I think people in those newsrooms are very patriotic, so their going to Kyankwanzi is not going to change the situation,” said NAB chairman Dr. Innocent Nahabwe.
Maj. Felix Kulayigye cautioned that failure to regulate media could take the country back to conflict.
“The country has ever been in war and can go back to such days if there is no regulation of media houses,” he said, urging media professionals to love their country.
“We can’t exist without you, but you need us.” he cautioned them.
The meeting resulted in key resolutions, including a call for media operators to take preventing measures in eliminating harmful content and ensuring that all published material complies with Uganda’s legal framework.
Strengthening collaboration between media houses and security agencies was also emphasized.
Furthermore, media executives and editors were encouraged to attend a cadre course at the National Leadership Institute Kyankwanzi (NALI) by June 30, 2025.
The meeting was attended by CEOs of major broadcasting entities and representatives from industry associations such as INDOJA-UG, NAB, the Rural Broadcasters Association (RUBA), and the Uganda Media Owners Association (UMOA).