UJA condemns parliament for barring NMG journalists
“Journalists do not cover Parliament as a favor but as a constitutional duty to inform citizens about decisions that affect their lives and their country,” he emphasized.
Kampala: The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has strongly condemned the reported decision by the Parliament of Uganda to indefinitely bar journalists from the Nation Media Group (NMG), operators of NTV Uganda, Spark TV, Daily Monitor, Dember FM and KFM from covering parliamentary proceedings.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, UJA Secretary General Emmanuel Kirunda described the move as “a blatant violation of the constitutional right to freedom of the press and access to information” guaranteed under Articles 29(1)(a) and 41 of the 1995 Constitution.
“Parliament, as the people’s House, is a public institution funded by taxpayers and must remain open to scrutiny and coverage by all accredited media platforms without discrimination or intimidation,” Kirunda said.
Kirunda argued that barring NMG journalists reflects a deliberate attempt to silence independent journalism, stifle transparency, and shield public officials from accountability actions he said undermine the principles of democracy and good governance that Parliament is obligated to uphold.
He linked the decision to what he described as a growing pattern of press freedom violations by senior public officials, citing a recent incident where Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine allegedly attacked Galaxy Radio–TV journalist David Mwesigwa for exposing poor service delivery in government health facilities. According to Kirunda, the Prime Minister even ordered the journalist’s arrest following his report to President Museveni.
“Journalists do not cover Parliament as a favor but as a constitutional duty to inform citizens about decisions that affect their lives and their country,” he emphasized. “Any move to restrict media access to Parliament is an affront to the sovereignty of the people and a step backwards in Uganda’s democratic journey.”
UJA expressed solidarity with NMG and all journalists working under what it called increasingly restrictive and hostile conditions. The association demanded that the ban on NMG journalists be lifted immediately and unconditionally, and called on the Office of the Speaker to issue a formal clarification to end speculation about its involvement.
The association also urged Parliament to develop clear, transparent, and non-discriminatory media access policies that respect journalistic independence. Kirunda warned that if these demands are not met, UJA will announce its next course of action.
“We reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom, promoting ethical journalism, and holding duty bearers accountable,” Kirunda said. “We shall not stand by as public officials attempt to erode the hard-won freedoms of the Ugandan media.”
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