Journalists want more freedom
Apr 30, 2009
JOURNALISTS from media houses across Uganda yesterday marched through the streets of Kampala as part of the activities to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, marked on May 3.
By Vision Reporters
JOURNALISTS from media houses across Uganda yesterday marched through the streets of Kampala as part of the activities to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, marked on May 3.
The procession, which started at 9:00am from the CHOGM Park on Nile Avenue and ended at the Railway Grounds with a blood donation exercise, was flagged off by Augustine Okurut, the secretary general of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO.
Okurut challenged journalists to improve on the quality of their work. “You must do your homework to let the public appreciate what you are doing. Journalism has become dangerous because some politicians think you are siding with their rivals,†Okurut said.
He added that UNESCO is a partner in the fight for press freedom and human rights.
Joshua Kyalimpa, the president of the Uganda Journalists Association, who led the procession, said the phone-tapping Bill, now before Parliament, would affect the profession.
“Our profession is based on confidential sources and people will fear to give us information. If the Bill becomes law, it will create disharmony between the press and the Government,†said Kyalimpa, the News Editor of Vision Voice FM.
Kyalimpa added that many journalists had quit the profession because of the legal regime and the harsh work environment that puts them in the line of fire, citing the sedition law currently being challenged in the Constitutional Court.
The French ambassador to Uganda, Rene Forceville, who took part in the march, said France was a fierce campaigner for press freedom.
“France strongly believes in the necessity of press freedom. That is why the information minister directed all French embassies to get actively involved in commemoration activities for World Press Freedom Day,†Forceville said.
The march took place as Freedom House, an international watchdog, in a report expressed concern over the continued global deterioration of press freedom, with countries like Israel, Italy and Hong Kong slipping from the category of free countries to the
category of partly free countries.
“The journalism profession today is up against the ropes and fighting to stay alive, as pressures from governments, other powerful actors and the global economic crisis take an enormous toll,†said the organisation’s director, Jennifer Windsor.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the body said, declines in press freedom were registered in Senegal, with a rise in legal and extralegal actions taken against media houses, and Madagascar, where journalists critical of the government are targeted.
Declines were also registered in Mauritania, Chad, Botswana and South Africa.
Uganda slightly improved compared to last year, climbing from position 110 to 109 among 195 countries sampled.
Within the East African Community, Uganda comes second after Tanzania and is followed by Kenya (position 128); all three are rated partly free. Trailing are Burundi (163) and Rwanda (181), rated not free.
In sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, Uganda is at position 17 out of 48 countries, like it was a year ago.
JOURNALISTS from media houses across Uganda yesterday marched through the streets of Kampala as part of the activities to commemorate World Press Freedom Day, marked on May 3.
The procession, which started at 9:00am from the CHOGM Park on Nile Avenue and ended at the Railway Grounds with a blood donation exercise, was flagged off by Augustine Okurut, the secretary general of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO.
Okurut challenged journalists to improve on the quality of their work. “You must do your homework to let the public appreciate what you are doing. Journalism has become dangerous because some politicians think you are siding with their rivals,†Okurut said.
He added that UNESCO is a partner in the fight for press freedom and human rights.
Joshua Kyalimpa, the president of the Uganda Journalists Association, who led the procession, said the phone-tapping Bill, now before Parliament, would affect the profession.
“Our profession is based on confidential sources and people will fear to give us information. If the Bill becomes law, it will create disharmony between the press and the Government,†said Kyalimpa, the News Editor of Vision Voice FM.
Kyalimpa added that many journalists had quit the profession because of the legal regime and the harsh work environment that puts them in the line of fire, citing the sedition law currently being challenged in the Constitutional Court.
The French ambassador to Uganda, Rene Forceville, who took part in the march, said France was a fierce campaigner for press freedom.
“France strongly believes in the necessity of press freedom. That is why the information minister directed all French embassies to get actively involved in commemoration activities for World Press Freedom Day,†Forceville said.
The march took place as Freedom House, an international watchdog, in a report expressed concern over the continued global deterioration of press freedom, with countries like Israel, Italy and Hong Kong slipping from the category of free countries to the
category of partly free countries.
“The journalism profession today is up against the ropes and fighting to stay alive, as pressures from governments, other powerful actors and the global economic crisis take an enormous toll,†said the organisation’s director, Jennifer Windsor.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the body said, declines in press freedom were registered in Senegal, with a rise in legal and extralegal actions taken against media houses, and Madagascar, where journalists critical of the government are targeted.
Declines were also registered in Mauritania, Chad, Botswana and South Africa.
Uganda slightly improved compared to last year, climbing from position 110 to 109 among 195 countries sampled.
Within the East African Community, Uganda comes second after Tanzania and is followed by Kenya (position 128); all three are rated partly free. Trailing are Burundi (163) and Rwanda (181), rated not free.
In sub-Saharan Africa as a whole, Uganda is at position 17 out of 48 countries, like it was a year ago.