JOURNALISTS WARNED NOT TO BE USED BY POLITICIANS IN COMING POLITICAL SEASON

In Masindi—–

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Journalists in  greater Masindi under their umbrella GMEPA have been warned not to be used by politicians ahead of  the political season .

The warning was sounded  by Steven wandera former chairperson of the association as  he was delivering his speech during handover ceremony held at Kabalega resort masindi  on Saturday 9th  November 2024.

Wandera who was handing over to Yosam Gucwaki told the journalists that whenever it approaches politics, some politicians tend to use them for their selfish interest regardless something which he says is not ethical and thus should desist from being used ahead of the season.

The outgoing president also took the same advantage to pass message to media directors and managers within Bunyororo and abroad to stop exploiting theirs staffs.

He asked them to instead provide to them job security by issuing out contracts and pay their NSSF  something which he says motivates workers as well as provides courage to them as they are executing their duties saying if workers don’t have contracts some work with low moral knowing anytime they may be fired like how some boss’s have ever done citing firing through phone calls.

” those Girls and Boys went to school , have families and other dependants to look at, it could be better if their wages are revised so that they don’t become beggars wandera noted”.

He asked his fellow journalists to love their work saying its where their future relies besides having other income generating projects.

Yosam Gucwaki the new chairman for the association hailed Wandera for the work he did during his time in office.

He however says, in his tenure , they intend to equip the office reinstate the website establish amedia hub at the office where by community shall be accessing internet and other secretarial services at subsidised cost. This will help the office to have daily income generating activity.

Gucwaki adds that his vision includes strengthening advocacy, safeguard press freedom promote journalists safety and welfare relevant to the community of greater masindi.

He urged the fellow journalists to observe professionalism, objectivity, fairness and balance whenever they are executing their duties to avoid conflicts and other legal challenges.

Responding to some of the issues raised by both outgoing and incoming chairpersons, Ernest Kiiza former minister for Bunyororo affairs and proprietor of Bunyororo broadcasting service (BBS FM). Promised to work together with media practitioners and offer them support where need arises.

He called upon the media practitioners to embrace government projects like Emyooga, PDM among others  so that they can also benefit from them and establish their own businesses, in order to eradicate poverty besides the little they earn from their respective media houses .

Mr Kyetume Kasanga sec media council of Uganda called upon the journalists to focus on professional code of ethics for journalists and editors as they execute their duties on daily basis saying once that is followed, no one shall ever doubt their integrity .

Masindi municipal mayor Ronald Kyomuhendo hailed some online proprietors for the initiative where he says  have created more jobs for journalists and other media practitioners .

He asked for journalists to work together with stakeholders and  professionally for betterment of this country. saying  gone are the days where media was not recognised and promised to always allocate budget for media during municipal activities.

Greater masindi media practitioners association (GMEPA) is amedia community based organisation  with objectives of gathering and writing news articles, disseminate to the community Formed in 2015.