NUMEC is a key industry player in the protection of journalists and the promotion of freedom of expression in rural communities. Our activities are geared towards advocating for free media through community dialogues, stakeholder engagement, commissioning, and publishing research on the state of media in northern Uganda.
Journalists in Northern Uganda face risks and challenges in the course of doing their work. Most
documented incidences have been in the domain of election reporting, reporting conflicts over natural
resources, corruption, and abuse of office. FM radio stations have been closed or directed not to host
members of the opposition party by state actors and journalists have been intimidated and arrested for
airing content deemed ‘treasonable’ without due process.
Journalists have been denied access by the military and other state actors to areas such as Apaa, which have experienced killings, arson, destruction, forced displacement, and sexual violence due to contestation over natural resources between local communities, Uganda Wildlife Authority, and local politicians.
Journalists have also reported intimidation, especially when reporting on illegal logging, illegal charcoal burning, and land grabbing by powerful individuals connected to the state. Journalists have also reported intimidation and threats while defending the labor rights of employees working with private companies engaged in large government public works, commercial farms and other commercial enterprises.
The abuse of labor rights has included denial of contracts, summary dismissals, poor pay, poor working conditions and sexual violence. The challenge for NUMEC is building the capacities and capabilities of journalists, especially on their readiness how to meaningfully participate and take charge of their own safety as they do their work in the protection and promotion of human rights and freedom of expression.
Additionally, our efforts are geared towards supporting, strengthening and building the capacity of journalists so that they are able to understand the global and national protection mechanisms and networks for their protection.
NUMEC endeavors to meet or source support for the legal and physical protection of journalists under threat. NUMEC also support journalists to do their work with minimal risks. We build coalitions and networks for rural journalists and media practitioners so as to amplify their voices.