KAMPALA —The Editors’ Guild Uganda and other stakeholders have asked the industry regulator the Uganda Media Council to suspend the deadline and registration of journalists to cover the 2021 general elections and other state events, saying the timing and legal mandate raises several issues.
The Editors’ Guild was on Tuesday December 15, 2020 part of a meeting with other partners in the Media industry — including proponents of the Uganda Media Sector Working Group currently under formation and Civil Society who engaged the leadership of the Uganda Media Council following the recent communication from the Council that has sent reverberations in the industry.
“In our meeting with the Council we, however, expressed three main concerns:
1. The timing and deadline for registration is unreasonable;
2. The mandate of the Media Council to carry registration in the absence of a competently formed and functional National Institute of Journalists of Uganda raises serious legal and procedural concerns; and
3. There’s a need to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression, including for citizen journalists”.
It is understood that the Media Council Chairman Mr. Paul Ekochu indicated in the meeting that the registration will continue but the deadline can be reviewed, and opined that the Council had the legal mandate to carry on with the registration.
In their statement on Tuesday, the Guild has reiterated the Editors will continue to defend the spaces for freedom of expression.
“We pledge our readiness to engage further on ways in which we can promote professionalism while defending the constitutional freedoms of media, expression, and the right to receive and disseminate information”.
Full statement
Representatives of the Editors’ Guild, together with other partners in the industry, today met with the Uganda Media Council following its recent communication on accrediting journalists to cover the 2021 general elections and other state events.
We continue to note that Ugandan law gives the Council the mandate to regulate the journalism industry. As a body founded to promote media freedom, professional journalism and fraternity in the industry, we welcome efforts to improve professionalism.
In our meeting with the Council we, however, expressed three main concerns:
1. The timing and deadline for registration is unreasonable;
2. The mandate of the Media Council to carry registration in the absence of a competently formed and functional National Institute of Journalists of Uganda raises serious legal and procedural concerns; and
3. There’s a need to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression, including for citizen journalists.
The Editors’ Guild therefore urged the Council to suspend this registration process and the December 21 deadline until further notice, to give all stakeholders an opportunity to find common ground and ensure the process is legal and reasonable.
The Media Council, led by its Chairman Mr. Paul Ekochu, appreciated the concerns of the Editors. While the Council maintains its intention to continue with the registration exercise, its top officials agreed to review the current deadline and respond to other procedural and legal issues raised by Friday, December 18, 2020.
The Editors’ Guild commends the Media Council for its willingness to engage on these crucial issues and we pledge our readiness to engage further on ways in which we can promote professionalism while defending the constitutional freedoms of media, expression, and the right to receive and disseminate information.
For more information, contact the Secretary, Sylvia Nnankya on; info@ugandaeditorsguild.org
