By Our Reporter
Kampala: The leadership of Independent Online Journalists Association Uganda (INDOJA-U), Saturday 9 march 2019 hosted a delegation from Open Society Foundation from the UK and held closed door discussion on the Rights and freedoms of Journalists in Uganda and how they can better level ground for press freedom.
The meeting that lasted three hours was jointly coordinated and attended by the Executive Director Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-U) Robert Ssempala who was accompanied by the Organization’s Head of programs and IT Head and President Indonja, Andrew Irumba.
Mr.Ssempala said the main objective of the meeting with their sponsors from UK was to widen the scope of engagements in advocating for press freedom in Uganda with different stake holders like the main online media administration-indoja-U.
Ms.Elisa Juega Ocana, the programs specialist on Independent Journalism and Mr.Carlos all from Open Society Foundation-UK arrived in Uganda two days prior to Saturday afternoon meeting with Indoja executive which was led by the Association’s President Andrew Irumba, Public Relations Head Amon Baita and Welfare in-charge Milton Tumusiime among others, at their head offices on Gaddafi road.
In her remarks, Elisa said they were looking forward to sharing information and ‘contributing’ to efforts towards programs aimed at a free and safe environment for independent journalism so that free expression of ideas could flourish.
‘We’re seeking to strengthen investigative reporting, innovative and quality information, and knowledge sharing. We under this could be collected under difficult conditions in the field, which needs to be addressed,” she said.
In his remarks, Irumba asked the donors to interest themselves in equipping and skilling Ugandan journalists to improve in their different capacities, especially in the coming elections.
He thanked the delegation for their positive gesture, and asked that a formal working relationship be created and maintained to help Indoja -U champion its key objectives of protecting journalists’ rights and promotion of professional ethical standards among others.
The Open Society Foundation–London hosts different thematic and regional programs, and serves as a forum for civil society, academics, and public figures. The foundation provides these groups and individuals with a space where they can present and debate issues such as the inclusion in Europe and international human rights.
