Stick to professionalism, journalists urged

By Wilfred Sanya 

The question of professionalism and ethics bubbled to the fore last week when journalists were called on to stick to just that as they go about their work.

Doing so would help shield reporters from being compromised by their sources, according to the commissioner for the ministry of information and national guidance, Moses Watasa.

It would also ensure the existence of objectivity in journalism, he told journalists during the launch of the Open Parliamentary Initiative (OPI) – whose purpose is to establish and enhance links among the MPs, citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The OPI is supported by Legal Brains Trust (LTB) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) foundation.
 

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The Executive Director of LBT Isaac Ssemakadde  (4th from right) and Commissioner Ministry of Information and National Guidance Moses Watasa joined by Journalists at the  launch of the OPI. (Credit: Wilfred Sanya)

Watasa said the information ministry will work closely with journalists and train them to reduce on defamation cases like those they are facing in court.

“Journalists should maintain ethical standards in delivering their work. The society has a lot of trust in the information you put a cross in the in the media,” said Wetasa.

On his part, Prof. Onyango Oloka   told journalists to pursue for their rights.

Mareike Le Pelley, the resident director of FES in Uganda and South Sudan, said: “By supporting the OPI launch event, we hope to support the free flow of information between parliament and the people of Uganda”.