On the commemoration of World Press freedom day, we ought to also remember the basics and roles of media in society. Uganda has made giant strides in media development, with nationwide proliferation of media outlets in the country.
All universities in the country offer mass communication and journalism and the number of students enrolling has been increasing. The fourth estate in Uganda has been empowered much more than any other developing country in sub Saharan Africa.
We have seen media releases from the US and European Union criticising the treatment of media personnel in Uganda. I wonder how many universities have these embassies built to promote journalism education? We have seen other foreign organizations like Nation Media group sponsor journalists for courses in Kenya.
Funny enough all these individuals are all known opposition sympathizers such as Canary Mugume, Raymond Mujuni who engaged in protests against government taxes, Sheila Nduhukire to mention but a few.
However with these achievements, we have also experienced a detrimental impact on our society and democracy.
The Uganda communications commission has released a list of 39 news personnel who it has ordered be suspended over misinformation and misrepresentation of news stories related to the riots that broke out in the city over the arrest and subsequent jailing of singer Bobi wine.
The personnel are from various news houses and in different roles including news producers and journalists.
This directive has raised a lot of dust especially from civil society groups who have accused the commission of acting as the prosecutor, jury and judge.
This is an absurd assessment of the role that UCC plays in managing media houses and affairs in this country.
The UCC is a statutory institute set up by an act of Parliament, mandated with responsibilities including licensing, regulation, communications infrastructure development and the expansion of rural communications services.
Lessons can be drawn from the Arab spring in which media portrayals of rioters and demonstrators enabled quick mobilization of masses from different parts of the countries to engage in the illegal acts.
This is exactly what some of the sections of these media houses had hoped to achieve by live broadcasting riots and only showing parts of the story sympathetic to rioters such as arrests and teargas.
One media house, NBS was seen interviewing protestors especially women on the impact the arrests were having on people in bid to gain sympathizers.
During the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, rogue elements with access to mass media houses were able to use them to spread fear among the Hutus and mobilise them against the Tutsi.
Daily Radio briefings were made to increase anger among the population and due to lack of authority and regulations, these acts fanned the flames of hatred among the people leading to a catastrophe.
It is not possible to have absolute freedom without infringing on the freedom of others. How come none of these media houses focused on the losses made by businesses in the areas the riots where taking place? What about the human cost to those caught in the crossfire?
You cannot squarely blame the security agencies that have attempted to diffuse the situation without putting the rioting culprits to question.
Opposition politicians are known to receive funding for riots, why has this angle not been brought forward by our “fair” media?
Media coverage of national events ought to impartial and balanced, giving room only to the viewer to make his own conclusion not skewing the facts to achieve ulterior motives of political actors.
