The warning was issued by Julius Esegu, President of the Human Rights Network for Journalists–Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), during the launch of a four-day Digital Security Management training for 15 journalists from various media houses in Teso. The training was held in Soroti City on Monday.
As Uganda gears up for the forthcoming General Elections, journalists in the Teso sub-region have been cautioned against endorsing or promoting political candidates, particularly through social media. The warning was issued by Julius Esegu, President of the Human Rights Network for Journalists–Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda), during the launch of a four-day Digital Security Management training for 15 journalists from various media houses in Teso. The training was held in Soroti City on Monday.
Esegu expressed concern over the increasing alignment between journalists and politicians, noting that some journalists are now managing or running social media platforms for individual candidates, compromising journalistic neutrality. He emphasized the importance of journalists prioritizing their digital and physical safety, especially during the election season.
“A politician can support you today and walk away tomorrow if you make even a minor error that jeopardizes their political ambitions,” Esegu warned. He further urged journalists to begin identifying safe zones to protect themselves in the event of threats or unrest during election coverage.
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Robert Ssempala, the Executive Director of HRNJ-Uganda, said the training initiative is part of the Network’s broader effort to empower journalists with essential skills needed to promote fair and transparent election coverage. “We aim to eliminate fear among journalists when covering elections, which is why we are preparing them in advance,” he said.
Ssempala also revealed that the Network plans to procure 150 armored jackets for journalists ahead of the elections and encouraged media practitioners to register with the Network for timely support in case of threats or attacks.
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Delux Emmy Alomu, a multimedia journalist participating in the training, said the sessions are timely and will equip them with the necessary tools and confidence to report effectively during the election period. The training covers topics such as digital security and risk assessment, strong password strategies, data protection and encryption, and how to identify phishing attempts and social engineering threats.
Mobile security practices are also part of the curriculum. Upon completion, participants are expected to return to their respective media houses and train their colleagues, as only a limited number were selected for this session. The training is funded by the Open Technology Fund (OTF).
Stephen Eligu
Freelancer