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Journalist’s protection digital tool to be launched in Uganda

30 November 2023, 3:19 pm

By Philip Onyango

Uganda Media Women’s Association with support from Canada Fund for Local Initiative is yet to launch a safe digital tool called “Safe Report UG” to enable prompt reporting of any form of violations and abuses against female journalists in Uganda.

Addressing journalists at hotel Africana, UMWA Communications Officer Brenda Namata said, journalists will be able to access this platform both online and offline to file and report any violation instances.

Brenda Namata, addressing journalists, Photo by Kabali Paul

Journalists in Uganda face many violations both online and offline which include sexual harassment, body shamming , story hacking and backlash to which the tool is focused to address

Namata adds that this platform is aimed at accelerating programming and advocacy for UMWA in achieving and securing safety and security of female journalists.

Meanwhile Joanitah Nankya Sanyu, Programs Officer and Researcher at UMWA says, media houses should develop policies which are not discriminatory and also participate in training journalists in orientation of the policies.

Joanitah Nankya Sanyu, Programs Officer and Researcher at UMWA, Photo by Kabali Paul

This comes as Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) under the theme  “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls”.