Media urged to resist censorship

By Vision Reporter

Ugandan media houses have been asked to be vigilant and put up a brave fight against all forces that attempt to fight freedom of speech and communication, including censorship and deliberate attack.

The call was made by CIPESA's Policy Officer Lillian Nalwoga  during a one-day workshop on media digital safety training organised by  CIPESA Uganda chapter and Uganda Journalists Union on  May 2 at Holiday Express Hotel in Kampala. It was facilitated by Open Net Africa.

"At most times, you the media like other freedom fighters  have suffered  in the search for freedom  by vices that be without taking into consideration of what the  different laws say. Knowledge is power and you need to be equipped by the  different legal backing and also be aware  of their shortfalls as a means of  making life easier," said Nalwoga in her paper delivered at the workshop, "Understanding the legal  and regulatory framework of the land."

Nalwoga gave the journalists  insight of the different regulatory authorities and Acts  that  regulate the media freedom and told them to keep them like a bible  as a means of fighting abuse.

Mark Kiggundu, digital security trainer from the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project warned journalist to watch out  on people who are monitoring their works on line  or misusing their accounts, by making it difficult for the people to access them, using passwords  on all their electronic gadgets and also received guidelines on working  on their safety and security  while on  and also off duty.

This was among the activities that were organised in the country to mark the World Press Freedom day which was celebrated  on Sunday May 3 across the globe.