Profile
Uganda Journalists Safety Committee (UJSC):
Uganda Journalists Safety Committee (UJSC) is a media Non-governmental Organisation based in Uganda. It was formed in 1993 to promote freedom of expression, protection of press freedom and developing of an independent strong media for democracy in Uganda. Mohammed Katende Kainda is a veteran journalist, retired public servant, editor, publ
isher and long-time human rights activist. Its membership comprises of journalists, media workers and other human rights activists committed to free expression and the protection of human rights generally. It has a countrywide network through its established regional co-ordination offices. Activities:
• Advocating for press freedom, freedom of expression and other human rights
• Monitoring and researching on the media situation in Uganda
• Monitoring media performance in terms of coverage and offering public debates through the media outlets
• Organizing short term specialized training sessions for journalists and broadcasters, and strategizing media activities
• Intervening in conflicts between journalists, government (officials) and individuals in society
• Doing civic education through the media outlets
• Monitoring of the democratization process and governance in Uganda. Past engagements and Experience:
Since its establishment, UJSC has successfully been involved in advocacy for the promotion and protection of free expression and other human rights. It has conducted human rights and democracy promotion programs for different stakeholders. It has also been involved in short term professional journalism training programs particularly for journalists based in rural areas. It has built capacity and experience over the time in media civic education and monitoring, and promoting public debate through radio and TV talk phone-in talk-shows.
1994: - Monitored the Constituent Assembly elections and constitutional debate from which the Uganda 1995 constitution was promulgated.
1995/6: - Held five training sessions on the aspects of human rights and skills of reporting on human rights, elections and other specialized issues.
- Undertook capacity building in the USA and Kuwait in election observation and skills of media influence of public opinion. Two teams were dispatched to observe the Kuwait parliamentary and the 1996 United States presidential elections.
- Working within a consortium of indigenous Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) called National Elections Monitoring Group (NEM-GROUP), undertook civic education for the presidential and parliamentary on behalf of the Electoral Commission (EC) and later monitored the elections.
1997/98: - Petitioned the Constitutional Court of Uganda against the law of sedition, the Press and Journalists Statute 1995 and the Electronic Media Statute 1996.
- Undertook a study on Peaceful Conflict Resolution on the war in the North
- Held three regional workshops on peaceful conflict resolution
- Petitioned Parliament to revisit its 1997 resolution over armed conflict in Northern Uganda
2000: - Working again in NEMGROUP, UJSC undertook civic education
through the media for the Referendum on political systems.
- Held six training sessions on election coverage.
2001: - Working under a new consortium called Democracy Monitoring
Group (DEMGROUP), undertook civic education through the media, monitored the coverage and performance of the media during the presidential, parliamentary and local governments.
2011: - Monitored presidential, parliamentary and local council elections and the bye-elections.
2002: - Monitored the Parliamentary Probe into Election Violence and Mismanagement in Uganda and issued a report.
2002 . Become part of the Uganda Action Network on Small Arms ans Light weapons (Kampala RANSA)
2003-5: - Undertook a long term democracy monitoring under DEMGroup program.
- Held four training sessions for imparting investigative journalism skills
- Published a democracy magazine called “The Public Eye”
2006: - Monitored presidential, parliamentary and local council elections and the bye-elections.
- Made a presentation to the European Union (EU) parliamentary committee in Brussels on the media situation in Uganda aftermath of the 2006
Past Achievements:
UJSC has since succeeded in creating public awareness about the threats posed to free speech. There is now a higher public consciousness on the need to have curtailing laws repealed. It successfully lobbied other journalists' organizations and stakeholders in the media fraternity to agree on the creation of an independent non-statutory Media Council as a mechanism for media self-regulation in Uganda. The organization was also instrumental in pressurizing government to bring to Parliament a bill for Access to Information that is now an act supposed to enable every person to access information in possession of the state and its agencies. UJSC has had partners in doing all its works who include DANIDA, Fredrich Ebert Foundation, USAID, African American Institute (AAI), US Embassy in Kampala, the European Union (EU), international press and human rights organizations and local NGOs among others.
