MAKERERE – In commemoration of the World Press Freedom Day, on 3rd May 2019, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe made a surprise visit to the strong room of Makerere University Main Library that archives all Newspaper publications in Uganda.
The Strong Room is located in the Africana Section; the old wing of Makerere University Main Library. Some of the archives Prof. Nawangwe looked at the Mengo notes; the first Newspaper that was published in 1900, Agafa e Mengo in 1906, Munno Newspaper in 1911 and the Uganda Herald in 1912, The Vice Chancellor also looked at some of the Makererean volumes that were produced in the 1960s.
Every year, journalists, communicators, media professionals and Human rights activists celebrate World Press Freedom Day by recognizing the fundamental principles of press freedom.
Through various activities, workshops and conferences, journalists evaluate press freedom around the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration (link is external) on media pluralism and independence.
This year 2019, journalists, communicators, human rights activists and other media professionals around the world will discuss the current challenges faced by media in elections, along with the media’s potential in supporting peace and reconciliation processes under the theme; Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation.
