KAMPALA – Mr David Kyetume Kasanga has been appointed the new secretary of the Media Council of Uganda.
The Media Council was established by the Press and Journalist Act; of 1995 and charged with the regulation of the Mass Media.
Mr Kyetume, who takes over from Pius Mwinganisa, was unveiled last Thursday at a function presided over by Mr Vincent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
Mr Bagiire said: “I’m delighted that the outgoing secretary has provided a platform for the Council to do its work responsibly. I pray and hope the new Secretary will do it’s job properly too.”
He added that the practice of citizen journalism or social media has one sided stories and at times fake news. He expects that the new Council will do everything possible to organize that space in addition to traditional media.
Mr Kyetume promised to engage with journalists on responsible reporting. He added that whereas journalists have the capacity to shape the socio-political and economic agenda of a country, sometimes they veer off and create trouble through irresponsible reporting.
“Journalists have a big responsibility to society and must always be reminded to execute it well. There is also need to review the existing legal framework amid proliferation of private media as well as citizen journalism,” he said.
