In an unprecedented development, the Uganda Parliamentary Commission has written to various media houses asking them to withdraw reporters who have been reporting on Parliamentary Issues for more than five years from being stationed at Parliament and replace them with the less experienced reporters.
That sounds like a joke right but in a letter signed by the Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige, which Ultimate Media Consult has seen, Parliament reasons that for purposes of “balanced media coverage” the media houses should act accordingly.
“The purpose of this letter is therefore to inform you that the Parliamentary Commission has in the interest of balanced media coverage of Parliament made a decision to the effect that all reporters who have been covering Parliament for more than 5 years should be replaced with effect from 1st May 2015.” reads the letter in part.
This therefore is to request that you arrange for the replacement for all Parliamentary Reporters from your organization who have been covering Parliament since the year 2009. The names of those reporters from your organization are highlighted on the attached list.
Some of the renown journalists who appear on the said list of over 50 journalists is Jingo Francis of NTV, Mercy Nalugo of the Daily Monitor and Yasin Mugerwa also of the Daily Monitor.
The leaders of the Parliamentary Press Association have condemned the decision
Agnes Nanduttu says that the parliamentary press association is ready to discuss the matter with the commission especially the speaker, but will seek for a court injunction if dialogue fails. Even though the the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has denied playing any part in the decision and promised to review the decision administratively various journalists have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the Parliamentary Commission’s decision.
Here are the posts of two of the Uganda’s journalists. We found Lydia Namubiru’s and Isaac Imaka’s protests against the decision of the Parliamentary Commission among others
List of Journalists who are affected by the directive
1. Ismail Laddu
2. Kakaire Sulaiman
3. Ahmed Mukiibi
4. Ahmed Katerega
5. Muwanga kakooza
6. Stephen Musoke
7. Henry Mulindwa
8. Dalton Kaweesa
9. Wambi Micheal
10. Siraje Karyango
11. Joshua Mmali
12. Odongotho Charles
13. Daniel Arap Moi
14. Dick Mvule
15. Kenneth Lukwago
16. Joyce Bagala
17. Wasswa Richard
18. Edwin Mamuto
19. Nahabwe Boaz
20. John Odyek
21. Cyprian Musoke
22. Enock Kakande
23.John Kakande
24. Felix Osike
25.Yasin Mugerwa
26. Mercy Nalugo
27. Isaac Imaka
28. Geoffrey Seruyange
29. Joseph Kiggundu
30. Nelson Wesonga
31. Jingo Francis
32. Agnes Nandutu
33. Senabulya Isaac
34. John Kakande
35. Timothy Sibasi
36. Dan Lugemwa
37. Walugembe Moses
38. Musinguzi Innocent
39. Bakka Isaac
40. Rogers Okwany
41. Joyce Namutebi
42. Alice Lubwama
43. Sarah Natoolo
44. Moses Kajangu
45. Rose Kasigwa
46. Savio Kyambadde
47. Busulwa Martin Nsereko
48. Charles Kazooba
49. Nkonge Ismail
50. Peter Busomeke
51. Halima Athumani