KAMPALA — The Uganda Editors’ Guild has cautioned the industry regulator — Uganda Media Council over the decision and ultimatum for practicing journalist to register, warning that the timing coming in the middle of an election was problematic and may cause unnecessary suspicion.
“We note that Ugandan law gives the Council the mandate to regulate the journalism industry and as a body founded to promote media freedom, professional journalism and fraternity in the industry, welcome efforts to improve professionalism,” the statement signed by Secretary, Sylvia Nankya reads.
“We however note that the requirement to register journalists comes in the middle of the election campaign season when many journalists are already covering candidates in the field,” the editors noted.
The Editor’s Guild was responding to a seven-day ultimatum issued to practicing journalists by the UMC on December 10, 2020 — requiring them to register or risk being denied access to cover the 2021 elections and other public functions.
The directive indicated that all media houses both local and international including freelance journalists who fail to register, may face criminal charges.
In a statement issued on Friday, December 11, the editors also said many journalists are already covering candidates in the field and protested the very short time allowed for this registration to take place and the recent refusal by authorities to accredit foreign journalists wishing to cover the election in Uganda.
“The Editors’ Guild therefore requests the Media Council to hold more consultations with different stakeholders to ensure that the constitutional right of citizens to receive and disseminate information is not unduly harmed by these regulations,” the statement indicated, adding that:
“This is particularly important during an election in which the primary role of good journalism – to give citizens the information they need to make informed choices – is needed most”.
Recently, a CBC News crew was deported from Uganda despite following protocols laid out for foreign journalists entering the country.
The deportation, which occurred last Friday, happened about a month before the country’s elections.
Opposition parties and election observers have expressed concerns the vote won’t be free or fair.
Uganda is due to hold presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 14.
Government has been accused of suppressing journalists through a series of arbitrary arrests and attacks — especially against those covering the campaign of some opposition candidates.
The Editors in their statement also noted that while the current law, which is more than two decades old, provides for registration of journalists, it might have been overtaken by developments on the ground, including the emergence of social media, citizen journalism and user-generated content.
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Full Statement:
EDITORS’ GUILD UGANDA
Public Statement – For Immediate Release
The Editors’ Guild Uganda has noted recent communication from the Uganda Media Council on accreditation of journalists to cover the 2021 general elections and other state events.
We note that Ugandan law gives the Council the mandate to regulate the journalism industry and as a body founded to promote media freedom, professional journalism and fraternity in the industry, welcome efforts to improve professionalism.
We however note that the requirement to register journalists comes in the middle of the election campaign season when many journalists are already covering candidates in the field.
We also note the very short time allowed for this registration to take place and are concerned with recent refusals to accredit foreign journalists wishing to cover the election in Uganda.
In addition, we note that while the current law, which is more than two decades old, provides for registration of journalists, it might have been overtaken by developments on the ground, including the emergence of social media, citizen journalism and user-generated content.
The Editors’ Guild therefore requests the Media Council to hold more consultations with different stakeholders to ensure that the constitutional right of citizens to receive and disseminate information is not unduly harmed by these regulations.
This is particularly important during an election in which the primary role of good journalism – to give citizens the information they need to make informed choices – is needed most.
We have reached out to the Media Council to express our willingness to meet with them and other stakeholders to discuss these regulations.
For more information, contact the Secretary, Sylvia Nnankya on
info@ugandaeditorsguild.org
