Next Media on Wednesday put disability inclusion at the forefront of its programming as it marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, giving full control of its Amasengejje news bulletin to a sign-language interpreter—an unprecedented moment in Uganda’s broadcasting history.
The usually fast-paced newsroom slowed for a rare pause as the interpreter took the anchor’s chair, a move producers described as both symbolic and transformative.
“This isn’t a stunt. This is what real inclusion looks like,” a senior producer at NBS Television said. “Persons with disabilities deserve representation in prime-time spaces—not as footnotes, but as the people telling the story.”
The interpreter, visibly thrilled yet composed on air, highlighted the significance of the moment. “For years, our community has been watching from the margins. Today, we are at the centre of the story,” he said. “It shows that media houses can do more than talk about inclusion—they can practise it.”
Next Media executives said the initiative forms part of a broader plan to expand disability-inclusive content across all platforms.
“We cannot claim to inform a nation when some citizens are left behind,” one executive noted. “Our commitment is to build a media space where everyone—regardless of ability—can access news with dignity.”
Uganda marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 with renewed calls to dismantle social and institutional barriers.
Disability rights groups commended Next Media’s approach, describing it as a “powerful gesture with real impact.”
A disability rights advocate who witnessed the broadcast said the move could reshape public perception.
“Representation in media shapes attitudes. When people with disabilities lead, not just appear, it changes the cultural script,” she said.
Among those praising the initiative was Nelson Bugembe, team leader at the Twezuule Foundation and a person living with disability.
He said, “Next Media focusing on bringing a sign-language interpreter to the frontline of Amasengejje portrays a genuine intention for inclusion. This day isn’t just for one group—it’s for everyone.”
He added, “I thank the entire management of Next Media Park for thinking about persons with disabilities from the newsroom to the screen. There is a call to action: not only media houses but everyone must embrace inclusion, because every individual is a candidate for disability.”
Social media lit up with praise, with viewers urging other broadcasters to follow suit. By the end of the bulletin, the message was clear: inclusion isn’t a favour—it’s the future of news.
