{UAH} FRUITS OF GAGGING THE MEDIA IN UGANDA

By Prince Mbide 

Weekly Commentary: FRUITS OF GAGGING THE MEDIA IN UGANDA

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In any given country, regardless of whether that country is among the Least Developed or among the  developed  ones, the role and significancy of the media is paramount.

During Amin and Obote regimes, a free media was a mere dream. However, when NRM came to power in 1986, many of us thought that it was the rebirth of a free media. Alas, we were wrong!

As we talk now, the media in Uganda is under many restrictions. A free media is once again a dream. Some people are barred from appearing on radio stations and TV stations. Media houses are under self and government censorship etc.

Consequences of lack of a free media

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During Amin and Obote regimes, when the media freedom was under attack, Ugandans started what was known as Radio Katwe. This was an informal way of passing on news from one person to another by use of word of mouth, without any verification. 

Unfortunately, it was full of lies, half truths and propaganda. Things like: embalabasa yalumye Obote. Enfudu yayogedde.... Amin alina enyama yamutabaniwe mu fridge, Amaggye gali kunsalo, etc.

Radio Katwe is back

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It is regrettable that Radio Katwe is back in full swing, in the 20th century and worst of all, under the NRM leadership!

Have you heard of things like: gundi yafudde (ate nga mulamu), gundi yafudde butwa, gundi mbega wa M7, freedom city ne Umeme bya gundi, emeeri enajako M7 ne Kagame etuuse e Mombasa, etc.?

Normally, the traditional media would investigate such stories and give a factual version of those stories. Unfortunately, under the current media restrictions, those stories are spread by the social media like wild fires. The traditional media just looks on with both hands tied.

Effects of the dorminance of Radio Katwe

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1. It undermines government programs and policies e.g immunization/vaccination

2. It weakens our religious beliefs and replaces them with superstitions eg mbu omulambo bagujje e Lubaga ku Klezia nebagutwala e Kisozi maama Fina nagukolako ebyawongo! Really!!!!

3. Government operatives use it to undermine the opposition, Buganda, traditional churches, trade unions etc under disguised characters e.g Lumbuye or TVO.

Leave Radio Katwe to Bars

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90% of the information that Radio Katwe propagates is naked lies using half truth as evidence. What it contains is pure bar talk ( mboozi ezitwaliriza omwenge).

Surprisingly, those who have been to school and those who have never been to any school believe Radio Katwe information as the gospel truth. It is a reference source these days: ate oba Lumbuye gambye!! Lumbuye yali yakyogerako, Lumbuye yatugamba dda, etc.

Believe evidence based information

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Something is true if it is factual. A fact is the quality of being actual. This implies that a question of fact hinges on evidence.

It is evidence that furnishes us with proof. Ask  yourself whether a given piece of information includes any form of evidence. Someone speaks for an hour, making all sorts of allegations without providing any kind of evidence to back up his allegations.

Evidence is used to establish facts. It is used to prove or disprove certain facts that would tend to show whether something was true or not. We have four types of evidence:

1. Real evidence/physical evidence eg a gun or DNA

2. Documentary evidence eg letters

3. Demonstrative evidence e.g diagrams, charts, etc

4. Testimonial evidence (involves witnesses)

Conclusion

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Comrades, let us learn to practise questioning all the information we get. Ask yourself: 

*is this true? 

*What shows that it is true? 

*Is the evidence provided enough to prove the allegations? 

*Is this person a credible source of information? 

*Hasn't he been making lies, without even making any apologies? 

*Where does he get the information he continuously gives?

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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