By Lilian Mutesi
Each morning, reporters wake up in every newsroom with one aim - inform, expose the truth, and give voice to the voiceless. But in Uganda, this kind of mission has begun to take a deadly toll every day. Journalists are not just fighting to make the headlines; they are fighting to stay alive, and safe, with their dignity intact.
The recent Kawempe North by-elections served as a chilling reminder of how perilous this line of work has turned. The upsurge in attacks on journalists was shocking - some journalists from various media outlets, such as NBS TV, were attacked for merely doing their work. One of them was Francis Isaano, an NBS photojournalist, who was badly hurt and hospitalized. It is not an isolated incident. It is a trend. And it is not acceptable.
Journalism Should Not Be a Death Sentence
The newsroom should be a battleground of argument, analysis, and imagination - not a battleground. And yet with every election, just about every protest, and every expose the team does comes a fresh wave of abuse. Our cameras are smashed, the journalists, also very much our friends, are attacked, and their careers risk being cut short.
Uganda currently presents these three primary threats to career journalists:
- Physical attacks: Journalists covering corruption, protests, or elections are intimidated, beaten, or kidnapped.
- Psychological trauma: The repeated threats, intimidation, and violence ensure that many have PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Workplace instability: Fear of retaliation places journalists in self-censorship, exile, or even out of the job altogether, creating a dangerous brain drain in the media industry.
It is not normal for professionals to leave their houses wondering whether they will return in one piece. It is not normal for journalists to be attacked simply because they posed tough questions. And it is not normal for employers to be powerless against protecting their workers. But that is the nasty reality today in Uganda.
A Labour Rights Crisis in Disguise
As a Human Resources practitioner, I see these attacks in the context of press freedom as violations of labor rights. The Uganda Employment Act of 2006 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2006 call for all employers to be obligated to provide a safe and secure workplace environment. But how do we provide safety when those who are supposed to enforce the law are the ones violating it?
The International Labour Organization (ILO) considers work-related violence as one of the largest threats to the health and productivity of workers. When journalists are attacked:
- They become less efficient, leading to burnout and employee turnover.
- There is high employee turnover in newsrooms, placing media organizations in a cycle of constant recruitment and training.
- Their psychological health also suffers from ongoing stress, affecting their productivity and work quality.
Journalists have the right to trauma care. They have the right to legal protection when they are illegally arrested. They have the right to psychosocial care to heal from the violence they endure. And above all, they have the right to report without fear.
The Cost of Silence
When a journalist is silenced, it is not just a loss for the individual - it is a loss for the entire society. It means fewer exposés, fewer accountability stories, and fewer voices shouting out against oppression.
The assault on the journalists covering the Kawempe North by-elections was a bitter reminder that if we do not act speedily, journalism in Uganda will be an unsustainable and risky occupation - where only the irresponsible will venture - very soon. It is, though, more than a journalist's fight. It is the fight for all employees, employers, and citizens who also believe in the truth and the justice that justice entails.
It is time to act. To protect journalists, we need to:
- Demand stronger implementation of labor laws to shield media workers from intimidation and violence.
- Hold the perpetrators responsible - security forces, politicians, or corporate interests.
- Institute workplace safety protocols, like security escorts for hazardous tasks and crisis response policies.
- Provide mental health therapy - no journalist should be alone in coping with trauma.
- Allow media institutions to stand up against pressure that erodes editorial autonomy.
We at Next Media are conscious of these concerns and are committed to making sure our journalists are protected. We have put in place comprehensive security measures, including legal support for our staff who are harassed or threatened.
- Legal Protection: We ensure our journalists are given legal protection when they are illegally detained or threatened.
- Mental Health Support: We have partnered with mental health professionals who offer routine counseling services to help journalists cope with the psychological effects of their work.
As a Human Resource practitioner, I appeal to HR practitioners, business executives, and policymakers to recognize journalist safety as an issue of labor rights, not just a media issue. We cannot allow those who risk everything to get the story to be left behind when they need us most.
To the journalists who keep reporting despite the risk - you are not alone. Your voices matter. Your stories matter. And your safety matters.