By Charles Katabalwa,
National
The opposition National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) has criticized the government for imposing high taxes on media houses in Uganda, leading to job losses in the industry. The party spokesperson, Moses Matovu, emphasized the need for minimal or no taxes on media outlets to address the issue of unemployment, especially among the youth.
Speaking at a press briefing ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, Matovu also highlighted concerns about the lack of freedom for journalists in the country. He pointed out that despite constitutional guarantees and international declarations protecting press freedom, journalists in Uganda continue to face threats and challenges in carrying out their work.
Matovu revealed that more than 100 journalists have been laid off by various media houses in recent months, citing economic hardships as the reason. This has resulted in newsrooms across the country being understaffed, with many journalists facing intimidation and forced resignations.
In addition to calling for lower taxes on media houses, NEED has urged the government to consider implementing a minimum wage to ensure that Ugandan workers are fairly compensated for their efforts. The party’s deputy organizing secretary, Godfrey Ssetumba, made this statement in anticipation of World Labor Day on May 1st.
As the media industry in Uganda continues to grapple with financial challenges and threats to press freedom, the calls from NEED for government intervention have become more urgent. It remains to be seen how the authorities will respond to these demands and what steps will be taken to support the media sector and protect the rights of journalists in the country.
