UNESCO boss calls for media freedom

Without the free flow of information and ideas, the public cannot form opinions and take decisions about issues confronting them in their daily lives, the acting Secretary General, Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, Rosie Agoi has said.

Speaking at the Post-Freedom day workshop in Kampala, Agoi said freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy and sustainable development.

She stressed that the media plays a pivotal role in the promotion of freedom of expression through empowering citizens with the information they require to exercise their democratic rights.

"Media enables dialogue between the public and the leaders; provide the society with diverse programmes of educational, cultural and scientific character in addition to news, entertainment and sports," she added.

Agoi condemned the continued harassment of journalists saying their safety is paramount in their line of duty.

She noted that the impunity for crimes committed against journalists and media professional is a major obstacle to ensuring the safety of journalists and "in turn shrinks the space for freedom of expression, thus stifling critical voices and debates on issues of public and national importance".

She called for the need for quality investigative journalism, independent and pluralistic in nature and adhering to ethical and professional standards among the media practitioners to play an effective role in society.

Agoi said they are going to continue engaging government to end the obstacles that threaten media freedom and safety of journalists.

Several media experts and practitioners also raised concern over the continued violation by police, saying it affects the passion of journalists in doing their work, thus affecting the quality of reporting.

The head of Makerere University School of Mass Communication, Dr. William Tayebwa said the 2016 press freedom index report by the Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ) shows that the journalism profession was under siege.

According to report, a total 135 violations were recorded with Police accounting for 83 cases.