The Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige has maintained that an earlier directive to kick journalists, who have reported at the institution for more than five years out of Parliament, still stands, contrary to a decision by the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah disregarding the same.

The commission in a letter dated March 9th 2015, wrote to several media houses demanding that they nominate new reporters to replace the crop that has been in Parliament from 2009 and beyond. The directive affects more than 50 journalists from different media platforms.

During a meeting with media editors at Parliament on Monday, the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga expressed anger over the conduct of some of the journalists attached to the House.

According to sources who attended the highly charged meeting, Kadaga accused some of the journalists of negative reporting, many times not cross checking their facts.

Apparently, the Speaker cited reporting on the vetting of the Deputy Chief Justice, Stephen Kavuma as an example of the reporters’ bias. She said the Appointments Committee had received a letter from the Judicial Service Commission, confirming that Kavuma had indeed been shortlisted for the job but some journalists reported that he had not been shortlisted for the job. She was visibly bitter that the journalists did not crosscheck their facts with the committee.

She further accused the reporters of negative reporting and indiscipline including journalists demanding for money from legislators to run their stories.

Kibirige is reported to have expressed anger over a letter written by the Uganda Parliamentary Press Association President, Agnes Nandutu, giving an ultimatum to Parliament to withdraw the letter or be dragged to court.

Kibirige, according to another source who attended the meeting but asked to remain anonymous, reportedly said the letter from her office to media editors is still valid, but dismissed UPPA’s letter, terming the association as a lobby group.

The meeting was also attended by two Parliamentary Commissioners, Rosemary Sseninde (Wakiso Woman Member of Parliament) and William Nokrach (Member of Parliament PWDs Northern Uganda).

While some of the editors are said to have sided with the directive but asked for more time to consult, others demanded that the Commission adduces names of particular journalists accused of misbehavior.

However, Kadaga and the commissioners declined to do so.  They instead promised that they would go back to the drawing board and discuss the matter further, after which the editors would be called for a follow-up meeting.