Parliament throws out senior reporters

By Apollo Mubiru

The Parliamentary Commission has taken a decision to stop senior reporters accredited to cover its proceedings.

A letter dated March 9, 2015 issued by the Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, which has reached to some media houses reads: “The purpose of this letter is to inform that the Parliamentary Commission has in the interest of balanced media coverage of Parliament, made a decision to effect that all reporters who have been covering Parliament for more than five years be replaced with effect from May 1, 2015.”
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“This is therefore to request, that you arrange for a replacement for all Parliamentary reporters from your organisation, who have been covering Parliament since year 2009,” the letter copied to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, her deputy Jacob Oulanyah and Leader of Opposition in Parliament Wafula Oguttu adds.
Some of Uganda Parliamentary Press Association members

The move has raised mixed reactions from the public. Sam Matekha a trained journalist said: “I think Parliament has a point. We have been missing a lot of information from the House as some senior journalists had really built alliances and negated their watchdog role. I advise the seniors to leave the daily coverage of the House and devote their efforts in much needed investigative journalism. The experience you have is now good enough to critically look and documents and events and give the public the hidden detail.”

Dick Nvule a senior journalist with a local FM station said: “It’s unfortunate that the commission with a member like Wafula Oguttu a seasoned journalist took such a decision. You need experienced journalists to cover institutions like Parliament.”
Another journalist, Alex Gitta said: “It is easier for some people to get compromised when they stay in a position for too long, politicians inclusive.”

Uganda Parliamentary Press Association (UPPA) president Agnes Nandutu described the move to throw out senior journalists from Parliament as a dream.

“For us Parliament reporters of which 80% are senior journalists, we detest the decision in the   strongest terms possible. We are convening a meeting tomorrow to forge a way forward. We shall definitely petition the Speaker and may also opt for a court injunction.”