Kabale, Uganda – A controversy has erupted in Kigezi Sub-region after local journalists were excluded from a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni, despite being accredited to cover his recent Zonal Parish Development Model (PDM) tour.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The selection criteria used to pick journalists for the meeting, held at the state lodge in Ntungamo District, has been questioned.
Initially, 50 journalists from Kigezi were accredited by the State House Presidential Press Unit (PPU) to cover the president’s activities.
However, on the day of the meeting, many were replaced by journalists from outside the region, sparking outrage and disappointment.
Nathan Bahangwa, a journalist with Kigezi Diocesan-based Radio “Revival,” expressed his frustration, saying, “Imagine running after the president for three days, waking up at 5 AM and returning home past midnight, spending our limited funds to cover his visit. Despite our tireless efforts, we were denied access when it mattered most.”
Other excluded journalists, including Obed Kankiriho of The Source News Website and Nobert Ndyamuhakyi of Kigezi Online TV, had prepared crucial questions regarding the president’s poverty eradication programs under the PDM initiative but were denied the opportunity to present them.
The excluded journalists are demanding answers and calling for transparency in the selection process. Some of their colleagues who met with the president admitted that it was unfair to sideline those who had actively covered the tour.
Among those excluded were Barham Akatukunda of County Radio – Rukungiri, Sam Ahumuza of ABK Online Television, Micah Kamusiime of the Informer News Website, Derick Ampereza of Rukungiri media online TV, Kevin Bayenda of Voice of Kigezi, and Zac Anthlem of Radio Rukungiri, among many others.
Ironically, a selected few journalists who made it to meeting received one million cash each, along with a pledge of a media van and 100 million to boost the journalist association in Kigezi.
During his three-day Zonal Parish Development Model (PDM) tour in Kigezi from February 12 to February 14, 2025, President Museveni assessed the progress of the PDM initiative, commissioned different government projects, met with Kigezi leaders and locals, and engaged in other activities.
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