What began as a familiarisation engagement became a timely conversation on the future of media governance in Uganda. Held on 29th July 2026 at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance Boardroom, the meeting brought together the Ministry's leadership and the Media Council of Uganda to explore how stronger collaboration can support responsible journalism and keep pace with the country's rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

The engagement was attended by the Minister of State for National Guidance, Hon. Alioni Yorke Odria; the Minister of State for Information, Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo; Permanent Secretary Dr Aminah Zawedde; Media Council Chairperson Mr Paul Ekochu; members of the Council; and staff from the Ministry and the Media Council.

Opening the engagement, Hon. Alioni said the familiarisation visits were intended to strengthen working relationships across the Ministry's affiliated institutions and create opportunities for better coordination. “We already know the institution. Today we wanted to understand the people behind it, hear about your work and discuss how we can work together," he said.

Presenting the Council's work, Mr Paul Ekochu said Uganda's media landscape has changed significantly since the Press and Journalists Act was enacted more than three decades ago. While access to information has expanded through digital platforms, he noted that the growth of online media has also increased the spread of misinformation and disinformation, making responsible media governance more important than ever. "The challenge today is no longer access to information. It is ensuring that the information reaching the public is accurate, responsible and serves the public interest," he said.

Mr Ekochu also highlighted operational challenges affecting the Council, including inadequate office accommodation, limited staffing, funding constraints and insufficient monitoring capacity. He said addressing these challenges would strengthen the Council's ability to promote professional journalism and uphold ethical standards across the media sector.

Responding to the presentation, Permanent Secretary Dr Aminah Zawedde called for closer collaboration between the Media Council and the Uganda Communications Commission, noting that institutions with complementary mandates can achieve greater impact by working together. "As Government, we are promoting the Whole-of-Government approach, where Government institutions work together and support one another instead of operating in isolation. We need to identify where institutions can complement one another, share resources and deliver greater impact together," she said.

Dr Zawedde also encouraged the Council to strengthen evidence-based reporting by regularly presenting data on complaints handled, compliance trends and other performance indicators to support planning, decision-making and resource mobilisation.

Hon. Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo said the discussions had reinforced the important role the Media Council plays in safeguarding Uganda's information space at a time when digital communication is transforming the media landscape."The challenge is to strike the right balance between freedom of expression and national responsibility," she said.

She noted that the growth of online media requires a governance framework that promotes responsible communication while protecting freedom of expression. She also acknowledged the Council's operational challenges and reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to advocating for greater institutional support. "The Media Council plays a vital role in protecting Uganda's information space, promoting responsible journalism and supporting national development," she added.

The engagement also explored the Council's enforcement powers, the need to strengthen public awareness of its mandate and opportunities to review the legal framework so that it responds effectively to the realities of today's media environment.

Closing the engagement, Hon. Alioni reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to working closely with the Media Council and other sector institutions to strengthen media governance and promote a professional, ethical and responsible media sector.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration, strengthen the Media Council's institutional capacity and ensure Uganda's media governance framework remains responsive to the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.