Ugandan Media Destined for Turbulent Times as Museveni Clings to Power

by Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

On top of lacking appropriate equipment to perform the watchdog role, Ugandan media keeps facing off with Museveni's regime which is hostile to Press Freedom and freedom of expression. PNS Photo/ Kalule  

To appreciate what exactly lies ahead for independent journalists, independent media houses and freedom of expression in Uganda, two incidents have to be put into perspective. This year’s World Press Freedom Day, May 3, came after the February 18, 2016 greatly flawed Presidential elections, and nine days before Museveni swears in the sixth time for another five-year term.

Museveni has been in power for thirty years now. The means he has applied to cling to state power are similar to those he used to capture it. It all has to do with nepotism, oppression, brutality and bloodshed. That is why opposition to his rule is mounting every other day, even among those thought to be his lieutenants and constituents.

On May 3, the world celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom and gage the state of press freedom around the world. The day is further used to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives exercising their noble profession, many times referred to as the Fourth Estate. The purpose is to highlight the importance of the Press in society, ranking it just after the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

The World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26^th 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 on media pluralism and independence.

Enemies of the Press, especially dictators and criminals, feel insecure when the Press plays its vital role of shinning a light on the injustices, robberies, nepotism, cruelties, the many challenges and hopeful stories the world over.

Through the Press, citizens get to know the truth about their countries, rulers, leaders and their policies, and also help the voiceless be heard. It is hear that dictators and criminals have issues with the free Press. In that spirit, since the Presidential elections, switching off the internet has become the norm whenever Museveni feels like Ugandans should not get certain information at any particular time.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni is at war with independent journalists and media houses as they struggle to hold him accountable to Ugandans. In the process journalists are harassed, their equipment destroyed and media houses shut down.  Many journalists should get ready for trumped up charges and stints in prison without fair trial. Abductions and incarceration in torture houses cannot be ruled out.

The more Museveni holds onto power, the more opposition to his regime grows. Worse still, a lot leaves much to be desired as the quality of life for majority Ugandans nose dives. Nepotism has replaced hard work and qualification to further undermine service delivery. Even the law courts are no longer considered secure resorts for redress.

In a bid to search for answers, one is tempted to ask whether the people from Eastern Uganda, who occupy the most influential positions are non performers, bad managers, or that Museveni is the problem. The country has gone to the dogs under their trademark noses and familiar names.

The February 18, 2016 Presidential elections, considered the most flawed in Uganda’s history, are laden with significant information on the past, present and future of the country. They look like the turning point for the much sought after change Ugandans seek and the Press covers as a special beat.

 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye, maintains that he had won the election with 52% votes but was rigged out by the Electoral Commission in connivance with Museveni. On May 11, 2016 he took oath as the people’s president.

Besigye’s claims are backed up by the European Union and Commonwealth election observers who call the election “anything but free and fair.” The crack down on the Opposition is another pointer to government’s attempts to cover up the truth and deny Ugandans the opportunity to make their own decisions.

The brutal silencing of dissent further points to attempts by the guilty to stifle the freedom of expression. All this draws the Press’ curiosity, leading to analysis of the situation so as to get to the story behind the story. On many occasions, the government resorts to the use of the gun while the Opposition takes to criticizing situations, posing questions and drawing conclusions.

It is under such situations that journalists are called upon to offer a platform for exchange of views on issues of governance, shed a light on the injustices, oppression, lies, brutalities and hold government accountable. Journalists, in their bid to tell the truth, have been ordered to stop covering Besigye’s activities as well as others organised by the Opposition. Museveni wants more coverage for himself and none for the political opponents. That type of work is suited for courtyard fiddle blowers and not journalists.

With almost all local leaders in the capital Kampala belonging to the Opposition, and being well versed with issues of governance and accountability, there is no way the Press is going to turn a blind eye to their demands and deny them an opportunity to be heard as well as those they represent.

The other unfortunate bit is that government has denied the Opposition space on national media. Government is actually tempting the Press to act unprofessionally by giving one side of the story. The effectiveness on the news media depends on the ability of journalists to gain access to information.

Museveni’s claims that he wants to fight corruption are betrayed by his hatred for critical and independent journalists. He should know that a critical element of a country’s anti- corruption program is an effective media. As such the media raises public awareness about corruption, its causes, consequences and possible remedies. Museveni should advocate for the funding of the independent Press the way he does for Defence and State House.

Again, the media investigates and reports incidences of corruption thereby aiding other oversight bodies. With the ill equipped anti corruption government bodies, Museveni should be very supportive of the media unless he has ulterior motives.

Museveni’s failure to deliver on his promises and the surge of the Opposition are not the making of the press. But what is important is to allow all parties to reach out to Ugandans to enable them make informed decisions. And it is only the press that can ably offer that platform.

 Clinging to power is the leading factor for identifying Africa’s rulers who are failures. No matter how many excuses they may come up with, at the end of the day all they do is engage in rhetoric devoid of substance. When the public demands for accountability and even prefers leaders of their choice, the demagogues turn their guilt to the Press and hold it responsible for their own non performance, greed, brutality and at times stupidity.

Museveni has a lot of explanation to make and a lot to cover up. It is because he is the president and has been around for at least thirty years. He finds himself between a hard place and a rock. But it is all his own making. The earlier he stopped blaming the Press for his failures the better for him and Uganda. The Press reports about his failures and successes in equal measures so as to come up with a balanced and informative news item.

During the last presidential campaigns, two debates were organised for the candidates. Museveni attended the second one after calling the idea childish. The Press covered the colourful event and the public made its views known about the candidates, judging their competence depending on their ability to articulate issues of concern to Ugandans. Even when he showed up, he had all sorts of conditions to set, including barring the Voice of America Editor, Shaka Ssali, from putting questions to him! He also decided the panelists!

Africa’s demagogues are also shy of the press. It seems it is their way of admitting failure. They attack the Press because it exposes them. Rarely do they appreciate that the Press helps them become stronger and accountable. Their political opponents take advantage of this to beat them at their own game and win the electorate to their side. This is not the Press’ fault.

Besigye, the thorn in Museveni’s flesh, is so articulate and down to earth that he is a darling of every independent journalist and media house. No editor, worth the name, has the power to turn down his side of the story.  In any case, Ugandans have a right to know what the man who wants to be their president has to offer and go ahead and rate him with the incumbent.

An independent Press cannot buy, let alone sell the notion that Museveni alone has the ability to be president of Uganda. This would be a catastrophe on the part of the Press and the country at large. The Press cannot abscond on its duty to inform and empower the public with information.   

Journalists have a duty to give both sides of the story. This means that they will continue telling their viewers, listeners and readers what Besigye has to say as well as Museveni’s story. Ugandans too will be given the platform to criticise those in power as well as those vying for it. That is why the inevitable is bound to continue happening.

It is certain as the day is followed by night that, as opposition to his rule gains ground every passing  moment, Museveni is going to brutally silence dissent and stifle the freedom of expression. As a result, journalists will be imprisoned, harassed, beaten, their equipment destroyed or confiscated, employment will be lost and some will even be killed. As violence against journalists will increase, so will the impunity.

Museveni’s sixth term will be a hive of activities on part of the brutal Police, partisan army and cadre judges; they are bound to descend on the Opposition and the Press to stifle the freedom of expression, freedom of the Press and cover up the truth.

Journalists and their media houses must be ready to report all the violations of press freedom as well as violence against journalists, no matter the media houses they come from. Attacks against Press Freedom should unite the journalists and media houses so as to win the public’s support and be able to retaliate on government’s attacks.

The turbulent times ahead, above all, call for courage on the part of journalists because the noble duty of being society’s watchdogs involves those moments when Museveni is going to become more and more desperate to silence media criticism of his government and policies.  

Freedom of the Press is an essential civil liberty and a key element to curbing corruption, improving governance and accelerating economic development. All aspects of society and government must remain on the Press’ radar if the Press is to contribute to Uganda’s sustainable justice and peace, rule of law and development.