Journalists in Uganda on Friday joined the rest of the world to the annual World Press Freedom Day, commemorated on May 3. The day serves to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and assess the state of press freedom throughout the world.
World Press Freedom Day also aims to defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tributes to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This year’s celebration was under the theme; “Journalism in the face of the environment.”
Journalists are concerned with their safety, exploitation, job losses, reduction in permanent employments and violation of the press freedom.
Stephen Ouma Bwire, the General Secretary for Uganda Journalists Union, an umbrella uniting the journalists across the country, says most of the media outlets prefer freelance journalists who are considered to be “cheap labor”. They are work without contracts and appointment letters, and they are hired and fired by mouth.
“The few journalists that are employed on contracts work under deplorable conditions, and the terms of service are unrealistic and not in conformity with existing Employment Act 2008,” said Ouma.
Ouma argues that the safety of journalists in the collection, processing and dissemination of information has become a nightmare as reporters get beaten, harassed and frustrated from covering riots and demonstrations using a multiplicity of sources at their disposal.
“Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and security personnel, especially those in upcountry, should stop censoring and suppressing critical news reporting,” he said.
“We demand that brutality and repression by Uganda police and other security agencies directed at journalists, who in most cases are clearly identifiable with equipment and press cards, should stop. Police should protect journalists, investigate the killing of journalists, apprehend perpetrators of crimes against us, and ensure suspects are prosecuted in courts of law,” he added.
According to Mr Julius Mukasa, the Executive Director of Busoga Health Press Group, the government should approve and implement the minimum policy to address the financial challenges of journalists at their workplaces.
“Media houses always take advantage of lack of minimum wage in the country, and they embark on exploiting us with peanuts, which can never take us anywhere financially. We need serious salaries as professionals. Government therefore should come in with the minimum wage Act to save workers from exploitation and gross violation of labour rights,” stated Mr Mukasa.
Mukasa, however, emphasised the importance of the media in educating, sensitizing, and mobilising the community members to embrace the protection and preservation of the environment.
He calls on journalists to expose the impacts of environmental abuse as an important key in combating environmental challenges.
