By Editorial,
Leading media organizations and human rights bodies have called on the Ugandan government to recommit to protecting press freedom ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The appeal was part of a joint communication released to mark the start of World Press Freedom Week.
The statement, delivered by Mariam Wangadya, Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, on behalf of the Uganda Media Sector Working Group, underscored the urgent need for reforms to safeguard journalism amid a rapidly evolving information landscape.
Uganda’s national theme for this year’s celebrations “Defending Truth in the Age of Polarization and Distrust” was also highlighted as timely and relevant, reflecting the domestic challenges facing media practitioners.
It called for efforts to strengthen public trust in journalism, especially in the face of rising misinformation and disinformation.
The group urged robust public campaigns and increased media literacy to help citizens distinguish credible information from falsehoods. END.