I am a 32 year-old journalist and human rights defender working with a local FM station in the western Uganda district of Kasese. I am also working for ujk-ug.org an online news agency and Uganda Radio Network a news agency in Kampala.
For the last five years since I joined the media Industry I have concentrated much on News Reporting and some editing in Kasese district that has been rocked by land wrangles and tribal clashes since 2006.
During my career I have concentrated on conflict stories, crime and court stories and some investigative work in the country that has been rocked with corruption.
I have also faced a number of threats from state agents but I have tried my best not to be pushed into the corners
Iprefer sharing a lot and learning more about human rights based approaches

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATIONS REPORT ON 14th MAY
Every year, May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

3rd May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) General Conference in 1991.
It serves as an occasion to inform citizens of violations of press freedom - a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered.
It is a date to encourage and develop initiatives in favor of press freedom, and to assess the state of press freedom worldwide.
It serves as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom.

Theme: critical minds for critical times; media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies
Subthemes
• Justice for all a prerequisite for freedom of expression and sustainable development.
• Promoting the media’s potential as a catalyzer of peace and mutual understandings
• Freedom of expression and freedom of information foster more inclusive societies





UJK background

Umbrella for Journalists in Kasese (UJK) is a non-profit making organization founded in 2013 that brings journalism practitioners together in order to appreciate each other as professionals, community-based, engaged in journalistic information dissemination and other related activities for the well-being of community without political inclination.

The organization is legally registered with Kasese Municipal Council under registration Number, NY/CBS/1988/2016/2017 and Kasese District Local Government under registration Number CBO/ 1751 and runs its activities without recourse to discrimination based on religion, race, ***, tribe or other forms that demean human dignity.

Given Uganda’s history, we believe that people should be able to freely express their views and have access to independent sources of information. We consider this to be an important prerequisite for peace and democracy. “Development of independent, transparent media systems, Quality journalism and media expertise are essential worldwide”.
It is our belief that conflicts hinder development of any area because the rate of production in the community slows down as people are engaged in fighting.
It is our

Development of independent, transparent media systems, Quality journalism and media expertise are essential worldwide.

Given Uganda’s history, we believe that people should be able to freely express their views and have access to independent sources of information. We consider this to be an important prerequisite for peace and democracy.

This is where I work: Umbrella for Journalists in Kasese (UJK) is a non-profit making organization founded in 2013 that brings journalism practitioners together in order to appreciate each other as professionals, community-based, engaged in journalistic information dissemination and other related activities for the well-being of community without political inclination.

The organization is legally registered with Kasese Municipal Council under registration Number, NY/CBS/1988/2016/2017 and Kasese District Local Government under registration Number CBO/ 1751 and runs its activities without recourse to discrimination based on religion, race, ***, tribe or other forms that demean human dignity.

Every day, people are curious about events happening all around them.
Without the art of journalism, however, staying in the know about local and world events would be very difficult.
Although newspapers and magazines were once the most popular way to stay informed on these subjects, Today, with the popularity of the internet, news and journalistic websites are also rapidly becoming popular as well.
You can find more on this website www.ujk-ug.org