Museveni takes swipe at media for demonising ‘his’ government

President Museveni has issued a warning to journalists against demonising government and talking ill of a number of the NRM’s achievements.

Speaking during his address to the nation about the current state of affairs at State House in Entebbe on Sunday evening, Museveni accused media of leaving out the truth and facts to tell lies to the public about the NRM government.

“I am here to bring discipline and balance in the media (TVs, radios, newspapers and social-media). These, most of the time, report in a tendecious and mendacious manner. The Government and the NRM have been asleep when it comes to media management. This is, partly, the old practice of the NRA. We never propagandised but fought and the victories spoke for themselves,”Museveni said.

“To shout on social-media, NBS TV, NTV, Okot Ogong’s radio in Lira or even CNN that the NRM is useless to the citizens of Atanga, Acholibur etc. or the ones of Atiak, Pabbo and Bibia or the ones of Katakwi and Moroto when they are seeing brand new tarmac roads in their area, will discredit the media rather than the Government.”

According to Museveni, the media is doing a disservice not only themselves but also the country at large accusing them of escalating tensions for no good reason.

He insisted that there is need to stop the ‘tendecious and mendacious ‘media both local and foreign adding that these are saboteurs of Uganda’s development.

“We are here not for the sake of newspapers. I’m a cattle keeper who produces beef for my family and Uganda. When you’re doing your work, why don’t you consider my work as well, because we’re all entitled to our businesses.”

“The fight between an Opposition MP and the Police may be interesting and should be reported. How, then, about the 600 megawatts Karuma hydro-power station for a country which had only 60 megawatts in 1986? Why don’t you report that also so that we know that you are a media person who is professional and informative? If you do not and instead only report the fight between the MP and Police, but you turn it into a campaign (kuyimbilila) hour after hour, day after day, don’t you lose your credibility as a source of information for the public and the world? Isn’t society, who desire and are entitled to develop their businesses, their areas and country, justified in looking for ways of how to resist your unfairness,” the furious Museveni wondered.

He warned that government is set to organisationally and technically deploy means to handle what he termed as sabotage by the media.