Makerere launches journalism project

By Carol Kasujja

MAKERERE’S Journalism and communication Department gets sh3 billion project from Norwegian Government.

This was revealed during a meeting between coordinators of the projects, Makerere University and the Norwegian Programme for capacity building in Higher Education and research for Development (NORHED) at the University’s School Conference hall.

The project aims at increasing the capacity within higher journalism and media education institutions as well as increasing research output in the global South.

Speaking at a function, Dr. William Tayebwa said that the project is amazing because it is going to strength media in post conflicts societies through Education and research.

“The project is about capacity building for the Department. We shall be able to train our staff members through scholarships, strength media in Post-Conflict societies, get equipment’s for the department and develop our own online journalism,” he said.

He also noted that the project is designed to ensure gender balance and equity, pay attention to members from marginalized groups, particularly in South Sudan, to strengthen cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.

During the function, the ambassador of south Sudan to Uganda, Michael Amanamoi, said that he is excited about the project because it is going to improve the quality of journalism in Sudan.

“We are grateful to Makerere University for extending this wonderful project to Juba. This is good news for the universities in Sudan because journalist student are going to acquire skills and improve on their reporting, he noted.

Addressing senior lecturers from the journalism department, Simon Mayende, the director of information and national guidance, thanked the Norwegian government for partnering with Makerere to train their staff members.

“I want to thank the partnership and request it continues uninterrupted because as a country, we need journalist that bring stories that impact the society,” he said.

Under the program, Makerere will also strengthen capacity in the other three higher institutions of learning it is partnering with to contribute to a more and better qualified work force, increased knowledge and evidence based policy and decision making.

The three universities partnering with Makerere are the Universities of Juba, college of journalism and mass communication, Kathmandu, and the Norwegian University of Journalism.