How Adupa used media to save Namorupus Rock on Mt Moroto

12 May 2026, 3:18 pm

Byamukama Alozious

Following a Gender Sensitive Reporting and Media for Accountability training by Uganda Media Women’s Association, leaders in Moroto say they have strengthened how they use media to engage communities, raise accountability issues, and amplify local voices.

Adupa Stephany Namer, who is the district councilor for Tapac Sub-county on Mt Moroto, shared how the training transformed her understanding and use of media in both leadership and community mobilisation.

She said the training helped her realise the importance of media in connecting leaders to their communities.

“The first time I participated in the training, it made me learn a lot. Earlier on, I did not know even the use of media, but after attending the training, I understood how media can work together with leaders and the community I live in,”she said.

Adupa explained that one of the most impactful moments where she applied this learning was during the campaign period and community engagements, where she actively worked with journalists to ensure her messages reached the public.

“Meanwhile, during the recent election and my campaign, I was involved in media even during community dialogues. I used to call journalists to cover my meetings. In my area, we have issues around natural resources, especially minerals, so we always invited media during community discussions,” she said.

She noted that she used media platforms, recordings, and radio engagements to communicate with voters, especially in hard-to-reach areas of Tapac Sub-county on Mt Moroto.

“Being from a hard-to-reach area, I used recordings and shared voice messages with my people. I also participated in radio talk shows so that my voters could understand what was happening in our community,” she added.

Adupa further highlighted how media played a critical role in exposing and addressing the case of Namorupus Rock, a mineral-rich site that was allegedly sold without community consent.

“We had an issue where some people participated in the selling of Namorupus Rock. When we followed up, we realized it was done without the knowledge of the community. We called the media together with the community, the RDC, and our Member of Parliament to discuss the issue,” she said.

She explained that media coverage helped mobilise authorities and the community, leading to action being taken.

“We had to revoke the title because it had been sold without the consent of the community. We wrote to the authorities to cancel the transaction because it was done for personal interest,”she added.

Adupa encouraged fellow leaders to embrace media as a key tool for accountability and public communication, noting that it helps communities in remote areas like Mt Moroto stay informed and involved in decision-making processes.

She also reflected on her involvement in covering and reporting community issues during elections, including NRM primaries, where she engaged journalists to highlight concerns affecting her constituents.