“Knowledge will Forever Govern Ignorance”

Saturday 10/11/2012 was rather a very  hot  day in Kasese but I had no excuse of staying home with my family  since RWECO  and the Kasese District  Informational officer, Mr. John Thawithe had scheduled a round table meeting with Journalist at Virina Gardens hotel.  The meeting was focusing on the role the journalist of Kasese in ensuring effective service delivery.   In the process of self introduction I realized that we had a representative from the Red Pepper and I was quick to crack a joke  not put me in the Red Pepper and he laughed it off.

Mr. John Thawithe ( 3rd from left) the Kasese district Information Officer, at the Journalists roundtable meeting

 Business started with a key note address  from Kasese district information officer who welcomed the members to the meeting and informed the members as to why the journalists were invited to the meeting.  The Guest speaker was a senior retired journalist Mr. Godfrey Kisangara  Mukiarane  who   made his case of serving since 1965 as a journalist had enjoyed working with the most daring situations and personality but that kept was his professional conduct and never diverted away. That for the print media, it was even worse if one did not make through research on anything published, as it will cross borders within a minute- talk of social media that has taken the media a beck . Mr. Kisangara quoted one American president who said that ‘KNOWLEDGE WILL FOREVER GOVERN IGNORANCE’,  the media is a big tool in governance and without the journalists then, the knowledge space would be incomplete. That he expected journalist to be current and not to sit back and wait for news, their work stations was the field. He reiterated his achievements to the then Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information back in 1965 who mentored him and taught him to know the community he was serving and know their tastes.

    

Mr. Kisangara, guest speaker at the roundtable meeting for journalists in Kasese

While discussing the presentation by Mr. Kisangara, a participants posed a question whether Journalists were still men and  women  who know their profession  or working for a quick money? The meeting was also informed that,  The Norwegian employee pay  70%  of their income in form of tax that was used to meet government commitments in developing countries but see  what was happening in sub Saharan Africa, Corruption is right from the roof of the house to the last point of the pole:  as journalists; We should not  conceal  corruption but expose it  so that  money is used for service delivery

  In the nut shell the meeting came out some resolution and among these  was that journalist should  the role models and focused in sourcing for credible information that will translate into improving the lives  citizens.  Journalist should be empathetic with a focus on service delivery, by always asking supposing its me? Know that there is life after a story and therefore ask them why a journalist would write a story to cause a loss of your life  “mbu” you are defending the freedom of the press  but we need to acknowledge that whatever we put out we make enemies and friends.

Another round table meeting where the owners and the managers of the media houses,  Chief News Editors, News Paper Reporters, Photographers and Program Directors will be able to attend was scheduled to 15/12/2012 and RWECO was requested to support the meeting and  a paper on role of journalist in improving service delivery will be presented. The meeting was attended by 10 participants   representing Observer, Kasese Guide Radio, Red Pepper, Radio Messiah, District Information officer, Freelance journalist and RWECO.

The purpose of these roundtable meetings is to question the professional conduct of young journalists and inspire them to conduct business in a manner that will contribute to improved service delivery in Uganda. In  RWECO we  believe that each sector has got a big contribution they make in making leaders deliver according to their mandate. While we recognise that the media was an important partner in social accountability, the need for an interactive session was prudent in order to share the vast experience from the veteran journalists despite the political turbulence they trade on. 

RWECO Staff:
Sheila K
Jimmy B
Abdul M