Parliament backtracks on ejecting reporters

Mar 12, 2015

No decision was reached to stop senior reporters from covering Parliament proceedings, the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, has said.


By Mary Karugaba    

No decision was reached to stop senior reporters from covering Parliament proceedings, the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, has said.


Oulanyah clarified that the letter written by the Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kiribige, to media houses was intended to invite editors from various media houses to discuss a proposal by the Parliamentary Commission.

“All media houses should therefore disregard the content of the letter. There is no meeting that has ever taken a decision on this matter,” Oulanyah told the House on Thursday afternoon.

Journalists and the public had furiously reacted to a move which sought to kick out over 50 journalists, including 10 from the New Vision.

According to a circular dated March 9, 2015, all media houses were to withdraw and replace their senior reporters and photographers who have covered parliament for more than five years. The directive was to take effect on May 1.

 Kibirige said the decision was made by the parliamentary Commission "in the interest of balanced media coverage" of the Parliament.

 "This is to inform you that the Parliamentary commission has in the interest of balanced media coverage of parliament, made a decision to the effect that all reporters who have been covering parliament for more than five years be replaced…." the letter read.

 

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