By Kamugisha Leonard Akida,
KAMPALA
The Ugandan government has been urged to engage online media outlets in raising awareness about various government programs in local communities.
This call was made by the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, during a media briefing at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Wednesday, in honor of the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
“I appeal to the government to collaborate with digital news platforms and involve them in informing the public about government programs, ensuring they are kept up to date when necessary,” said Wangadya.
Wangadya emphasized the pivotal role online news platforms play in rapidly disseminating information, surpassing the reach of traditional media. She stressed that the government should leverage these platforms to ensure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, has full access to information and can actively participate in government programs.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) is a global event proclaimed by UNESCO on November 17, 2015, aimed at promoting peaceful and inclusive societies by ensuring public access to information and protecting fundamental freedoms. The 74th UN General Assembly further proclaimed September 28 as IDUAI at the UN level in October 2019.
In Uganda, the 2024 IDUAI celebrations will take place on Thursday at Makerere University under the theme: “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.” The global event will be hosted in Accra, Ghana, on October 1-2, 2024.
State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Baluku Kabyanga, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting awareness on access to information. However, Kabyanga expressed concern over the growing spread of misinformation, which often misleads the public by circulating inaccurate information. He highlighted that the government is currently working on laws to regulate Uganda’s communication sector.
“While some people struggle with access to information, others are faced with the challenge of access to misinformation. However, as a democratic society, we have allowed everyone to express themselves. This underscores Uganda’s commitment to implementing universal access to information, but it will require collective efforts,” he said.
“We are in the process of amending the communications laws into one comprehensive law. This is necessary because the sector is rapidly evolving due to technological advancements. We aim to streamline responsibilities, with some falling under the Uganda Human Rights Commission,” Kabyanga added.
