Isaac Imaka, the president UPPA supports the need for journalists to benefit from every government program, saying journalists are also part of the larger Ugandan community.
Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebagala from Unwanted Witness, says government must put in place guidelines on social media management. credibility, accuracy and accountability have been eroded.
During discussions on the state of the economy, Oulanyah noted that the private sector, which should be the major drivers of economic growth, has been frustrated through inaccessibility to cheap loans and credit, such as agricultural loans at Uganda Development Bank UDB.
However, the UPPA lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde argued that UPPA being the umbrella body for journalists accredited to cover the house was affected by the directive from the parliamentary commission and therefore sought redress.
On January 18th, Obore wrote to Ahmed Kagoye, the Sergeant at Arms at parliament directing him to close the UPPA office following disagreements with journalists over fresh guidelines requiring parliamentary reporters to poses a bachelors degree and three years of experience.
Through its lawyer, Isaac Ssemakadde, UPPA argues that the decision by Chris Obore, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Parliament to withdraw office space from journalists could result into unnecessary and avoidable conflict.
The withdrawal was announced in a letter from Chris Obore, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs to the Sergeant-at-Arms Ahmed Kagoye. The letter dated January 18th, 2016, directs the Sergeant-at-Arms to close the offices of the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association UPPA with immediate effect.
High Court Registrar Her Worship Atingu Beatrice Stella issued an interim order restraining the implementation of the Clerk to Parliament letter dated 11th January 2016 fixing job specifications for journalists posted to cover parliament.
According to Rwakafuzi, parliament is a public place, where everyone has a right to comment on what transpires there, be it a journalist or rumormonger.
