The incumbent president Yoweri Museveni receives the most media coverage among the eight presidential Candidates.

This is part of the findings of a recent research survey conducted by the media monitoring network. The group released a report today indicating that the media are not offering balanced coverage to all presidential candidates.

Sam Lubega (DM photo)

The report indicate candidate president Yoweri Museveni is being favored by both print and electronic media followed by Democratic Party candidate  Nobert Mao while independent Samuel Lubega was least covered by media houses in Uganda.

The project manager at the media monitoring network Seguruligamba Mottles says some candidates are being denied access to media outlets especially upcountry.

The Interparty Presidential Candiate Dr. Kizza Besigye who is Museveni’s closest challenger has on several occasions been denied access to some radio stations. The ruling NRM has on several occasions denied a hand in this, saying those are decisions of private media owners.

Betty Kamya of the Uganda Federal Alliance, Dr. Abed Bwanika of the People’s Development Party and Jabeli Bidandi Ssali of the People’s Progressive party have also on several occasions complained of little media attention to their campaigns.

Media houses last year committed themselves to follow Elections coverage guidelines ensuring fairness and equitable coverage of elections candidates, but the report finds that many media houses are falling short on this commitment.

The research findings further indicated those candidates are focusing on their campaigns manifestos other than personal attacks as witnessed in 2006.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias, Ultimate Media