By George Bukenya
On May 3rd, 2024, Journalists, world over, will be commemorating the World Press Freedom Day but locally, journalist are grappling with huge challenges yet government has not come out mitigate such problems affecting them.
The president of Uganda Journalists Association Mathius Rukundo while addressing his fellow Journalists in Kampala said that, although there’s a line mother Ministry, the Subsector is not being help at all to come out of the challenges.
Rukundo said that the Ministry of information Technology Communication and National Guidance is always adamant when it comes to the challenges such as violation of Journalists’ rights of accessing information where they are buttered by security agencies in the line of their duty.
“As UJA leaders we don’t know also why the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and National Guidance don’t come out or not willing to help Journalists to overcome the challenges that are affecting them.” Rukundo said.
He asked President Museveni to replace such leaders in the line Ministry whom he said are not catering for the people they are mandated to cater for yet they have a budget for them.
Rukunda also challenged the Uganda Broadcasters Association, a body he said that fights for the welfare of their member media house yet they are not bothered for the welfare of their worker force which helps them make money.
“ We would like to make the following players; Parliament to interest itself by exercising its monitoring role to find out as to why there’s persistent exploitation and violations of journalists’ social and economic rights, President Museveni also should fast track the process of government’s capitalization of UJA SACCO as per his February 11th 2023 Kyambogo pledge.’’
The Journalists leader also called on Parliament to stream line the law concerning the journalism sub-sector such that it can be fully recorgonized as the 4th Estate is its always said in talking.
A number of activities will be under taken in the commomoration of the day and these include; planting of tree to conserve the evironment which is in line with this years theme, awarding Heroes from the various sectors and the media Football Gala which will take place on Sunday 5th, 2024 and featuring different media houses and other organization stake holders.