Overlooked and undervalued: Female journalist speaks out on media injustice

26 May 2025, 4:03 pm

By Byamukama Alozious

A senior female journalist in the Lango subregion has revealed how she was unfairly denied a promotion despite years of service and proven competence a story that mirrors the broader gender inequalities within Uganda’s media industry.

In a one-on-one interview with Mama FM, the journalist, who requested anonymity, shared how she has worked at her station for over a decade including seven years as Deputy Editor. When the Editor resigned, she expected to take over, especially after her predecessor mentored and oriented her for the role.

“He told me, ‘You’re ready for this job.’ I prepared myself,” she said. “But when the news came that someone else—a man—was appointed, I was devastated.”

Management cited two reasons: she wasn’t from the region and she was a woman. “They said I’m from a different tribe and district yet I’ve spent over 10 years here, speak the language fluently, and have edited stories in the local language without issue. That was a poor excuse.”

Worse still, she was told she couldn’t defend the station in case of editorial backlash or court summons because “a woman may not be strong enough to handle pressure.” She calls this “gender stereotyping at its worst.”

She added that in many media houses, men dominate top positions from CEO to editor and finance while women remain stuck at entry level for years. “Some join as reporters and stay in the same role for 5–6 years without growth. They eventually quit or shift careers.”

She also noted that sexual harassment is pushing many young female journalists out of the industry. “Some are asked for sex in exchange for job security. Others feel unsafe or unsupported and choose to walk away.”

Her testimony came during a two-day gender-sensitive reporting training in the Lango subregion, organised by the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) in partnership with the Editors Guild, Uganda Radio Network (URN), and the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), with support from the Embassies of the Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, and Denmark.

The training empowered journalists to advocate for women’s inclusion in the newsroom, challenge gender-based discrimination, and amplify vulnerable voices.

She and other trained journalists plan to engage media managers directly and push for reforms. “We’ll go station to station, and show them the potential women have. We deserve equal chances