Journalists tipped on election reporting skills

25 August 2025, 6:23 pm

By Agness Agilo

Journalists have been urged to adopt responsive reporting as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections.

Rebecca Birungi, a trainer and consultant with the Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA), made the remarks at the close of a two-day capacity-building workshop on election reporting, and the safety and security of journalists, held at Pauline Hotel in Lira City.

Birungi explained that the training was aimed at strengthening the knowledge and skills of young journalists so they are better equipped to cover the elections in a responsive manner.

She further noted that the training mainly focused on legal frameworks, physical safety, misinformation and disinformation. Journalists were tasked with critically verifying every message before disseminating it and urged to refrain from spreading false information, particularly at a time when the country is preparing for the elections.

Meanwhile, Ms Catherine Apalat, Project Coordinator for the UMWA/VIKES Women in Media programme, noted that journalists will face both opportunities and challenges as the 2026 general elections approach. These range from the demand for accurate, timely and balanced reporting to potential risks such as harassment, intimidation and arrest while covering political events. This, she emphasised, underlines the importance of the workshop in preparing journalists for the elections.

Ms Apalat encouraged journalists to put into practice the knowledge acquired during the training as they prepare to cover the forthcoming polls.

Sara Ejang, a journalist with Hot FM in Amolatar District, expressed her appreciation for the timeliness of the training and said she was optimistic it would help journalists produce fair and balanced reporting during the elections.

Emmy Daniel Ojara, a journalist with Speak FM in Gulu City, described the workshop as the best he had attended in his 10 years in the profession. He pledged to fully apply the knowledge gained as the country moves towards the general elections.

The training drew participants from Lira City, Amolatar, Gulu, Pader, Kitgum and Kotido.