Journalists Storm out of meeting ahead of world press day

3 May 2024, 9:58 am

By wamatoyi Kenneth

Journalists storm out of meeting World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Mbale left hanging in the balance.The journalists in Mbale city, under the Umbrella, the Mbale Journalists Association (MBAJA), have held a press conference to dissociate themselves from the upcoming World

Press Freedom Day celebrations on May 3, 2024, organized by the two leaders of the Mt. Elgon-Bukedi Media Organization in Mbale. The World Press Freedom Day 2024 is to commemorate the media freedom, under the global theme, “A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the face of the Environmental Crisis.”During the press conference held on Thursday evening.

Mr. Ayub Kirinya, a journalist working with IUIU FM, read a letter signed by Imam Soudi Muhammad Masalu, the Vice Chairman of MBAJA to all Media Practitioner in Mbale city and neighboring districts. The letter stated that there is a concern regarding an organization called Mt. Eigon-Budkedi Media Organization, which purports to transact business on behalf of journalists in Town.

This organization’s members, elected to interim leadership in 2018 for six months, have not relinquished power more than five years later.Ayub accused Musila Moses and Wambende Fred of Daily monitor for failing to account 1.5 million shillings given to journalists during the COVID-19 period, which were donated by Mukobe Moses Khaukha, the Director of Hands of Action Uganda, an NGO in Bududa district.”In a meeting Wambede summoned on 8th May 2023 at Hiltoo Hotel in Mbale City, members who attended resolved to dissolve MEBO and formed the Mbale Journalists Association, in which he was elected interim Chairperson.” Ayub said. Ayub said, “Musila showed us in the meeting that when we postponed this event, his partners in Kampala would be annoyed. But when asked why yet they haven’t given you any money for mobilization , he wasn’t clear. Kizza Faisal accused the two journalists for bringing confusion among journalists in Mbale City.Paul Watala a journalist from the New Vision noted that, These guys are self motivated and not there for journalists, so we don’t serve the same interests at all is the reason why we said enough is enough we have seen other regions are working together and benefiting from government programs but here our colleagues are serving their own interests.Six years now they are in leadership, we have been in the field, our colleagues have suffered all sorts of insults but they dont want to come out to speak the same language and help them.”

Watala said.”So whoever is going to stand with us one the issues of journalistism in Mbale we shall go with that one and whoever is going to use us to front his selfish interests we shall not accept.” He added. Matende Yasin said we went in the meeting with those guys to see how we can work together to make this day a success but they were not straight, we asked them the let us stop this and plan for a belated celebration for all journalists to be involved which they refused we had to pull out. Matende Yasin a journalist working with Big FM said, we went in the meeting with those guys to see how we could work together to make this day a success, but they were not straightforward. “We asked them to let us stop this function and plan for a belated celebrations for all journalists to be involved, which they refused. We had to pull out.” He said.