Uganda journalists to be trained on constitutional rights

KAMPALA-Uganad journalists irrespective of their media houses will next month (November) 8th and 9th be trained by the Uganda Human Rights commission (UHRC) on the constitutional laws and rights governing them.

The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) leader Bashir Kazibwe on Wednesday confirmed over a request by UJA executive for UHRC to train journalists next month on their constitutional rights, so that they know how to safe guard them.

Kazibwe also asked UHRC to train and sensitise editors of different media houses on how to treat reporters especially those who report in riotous situations.

Kazibwe later confirmed that UHRC had acceded to the request to train journalists and their editors on different dates next month.

 "Our journalists are sometimes not given protective gears to wear during riots and some of them are not treated when they get accidents while on duty, so those and some other issues are the ones we want to talk about with media owners on November 9th," said Kazibwe said.

He also said after training they will call all journalists who were harshly treated during recent Arua by election riots and see how they can be compensated by those who ill-treated them.

According to Med Kaggwa, chairperson UHRC they will  train journalists, editors and different media owners on various dates of the next month.

"We have been working with the previous leaders of journalists and we will continue working with new leaders as well, and give them support when they need it," said Kaggwa.

He asked journalists to always be equipped with knowledge concerning questions before they raise them to different people for answering.

"Read and make research about what you want to ask so that before you ask it you have some knowledge about it," said Kaggwa.