By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu
MBARARA
The Women in Media Association (WOMA) has announced a landmark partnership with media houses to establish Civic Space Desks, dedicated to promoting freedom of expression, security, and protection of journalists and human rights defenders in Uganda. This was revealed today 2nd July, by WOMA members at a press conference at Acacia hotel in Mbarara city
The initiative comes at a critical time, ahead of the 2025 primary elections and 2026 general elections, amidst growing concerns over attacks on journalists, media workers, and human rights defenders. Praise Rukundo, Legal and Protection Officer at WOMA, emphasized the urgent need for a safe and enabling environment for journalists and human rights defenders, particularly women, who face disproportionate challenges in their line of work.
Rukundo lamented the numerous cases of female journalists being beaten by security agencies while performing their duties, with many failing to receive the justice they deserve. She urged media houses to adopt a 50:50 gender balance in their programming, featuring more female contributors on their talk shows.
Adella Orishaba, a WOMA member, echoed the call for gender equality in media, emphasizing the need for increased female representation and an end to violence against women and girls in the media. She encouraged female journalists to assert themselves and compete with their male counterparts, seeking support from organizations like WOMA in cases of mistreatment.
Coslin Nakayira Agasalo highlighted the daunting challenges faced by female journalists, including sexual abuse, denial of maternity leave, and unpaid leave. She urged victims to report such incidents to WOMA, seeking to curb these crimes.
Gloria Nayebare, another WOMA member, emphasized the importance of empowering women journalists through training in occupational hazards and sharing experiences to promote good mental health.
This partnership aims to address the gender imbalance in media, promote a safe and secure environment for all journalists and human rights defenders, and foster collaborative efforts between civil society organizations, media houses, government officials, and state agents, Nayebare added.
By establishing Civic Space Desks, WOMA and media houses aim to create a conducive environment for free expression, security, and protection of journalists and human rights defenders, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and equitable media landscape in Uganda.
