Journalists threaten to boycott general elections if EC ignores demands

4 May 2025, 11:49 am

By Ronald Ssemagonja

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day to be celebrated annually on May 3rd. This followed recommendations by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) during their General Assembly. The establishment of this day was intended to remind governments and other stakeholders of their roles in protecting the freedom of the press. The theme for this year, as set by UNESCO, is “Reporting in the Brave New World: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Press Freedom.” Against this backdrop, the leading organisation in Uganda, the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), organised celebrations of the day at Emerald Hotel in Kampala.

Veteran journalist Richard Baguma, in his address, urged journalists to unite if they are to overcome the challenges faced in their profession. “UJA has been here for over 60 years, but coordination is lacking. You must have the courage and honesty to look inward and reorganise. I don’t want you to be massaged. You must unite. I want to be honest with you. Form a cooperative for yourselves. I know it is good to beg President Museveni for support, but even if he gives you UGX 100 million, if you’re not coordinated, you won’t achieve anything. Another point is that the media holds power, which we are not fully utilising. We can use AI to fight our battles. Look at the missions of your media houses and see if they align with your goals,” he said. Baguma went on to urge journalists to advocate for themselves, stating that the fight must start with them. By uniting, Baguma emphasised, they would be able to confront their fears as a coordinated group. He also reminded them that they possess untapped power, urging them to wake up and organise.

In the same spirit, the President of the association, Mattheus Rukundo, began his speech by requesting that journalists stand for a moment of silence in memory of the 122 journalists who were killed worldwide in 2024. He then expressed gratitude to the journalists for their work, despite the many challenges faced in the industry. “Let us all stand in memory of the 122 journalists who were killed in 2024; may their souls rest in peace. We can say no to the Electoral Commission if they don’t guarantee our safety in the general elections. The time is now. They must think. At least let them do something and fail, rather than doing nothing, because most of the violence occurs during elections. Before an election, we must know the Electoral Commission’s position on this matter,” he said. The President also stated that money governs the world, and without it, little can be accomplished. “We have no money, and it is what governs the world. I agree with Mr. Baguma, we must unite,” he added.

In his response, the Spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, Julius Musinguzi, urged journalists not to lose hope or energy in carrying out their work. Emmanuel Kirunda, the Secretary General of UJA, appealed to the government to take action, as the challenges faced by the media remain largely the same each year. Noelyn Nasuuna from DPI advised journalists to exercise caution when using AI, acknowledging its challenges. Top television reporter, Miracle Ibra, who was injured during the by-election in Kawempe North, recounted how he was assaulted and called for security agencies to cooperate with the media. The event was attended by journalists from various media houses across the country. However, journalists throughout much of the country also celebrated the day.