Kin Kariisa, the Group CEO of Next Media and Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), has called for a renewed commitment to responsible media practices, urging political leaders to support the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in reigning in impunity within the broadcasting sector.
Speaking at the ‘Regional Broadcasters’ Stakeholder Engagement’ on ‘Responsible Election Media Coverage’ convened by the UCC and the Ministry of ICT, Kariisa addressed the critical issue of media ownership in Uganda. He was responding to a concern raised by the UCC Executive Director about the low turnout of media owners at such crucial discussions.
“I thank the UCC and Ministry of ICT for convening this engagement,” Kariisa began. “For those of us that believe that we have only one Uganda, and one that we as the regulated media have a purpose to protect, platforms like this are great.”
Kariisa then explained the architecture of media ownership in the country, pointing out that it directly impacts industry engagement and accountability. “How licenses are structured in our industry explains why some players don’t show up to crucial discussions like these,” he stated. “Politicians hold the largest percentages of licenses currently, followed by churches, cultural institutions, and then us investors.”
He argued that this structure has led to a challenging operational environment. “The political class, to put it lightly, has invaded our space, and many of these colleagues of ours operate with impunity!” he asserted. “I, therefore, applaud the UCC ED’s resolve to address this. My appeal is that political leaders back him fully, for Uganda deserves a media space run by responsibility, not impunity.”
In his address, Kariisa also made two other critical calls to action ahead of the upcoming election cycle. He urged the Uganda Electoral Commission to significantly step up its voter education efforts. “The new technology the commission is investing in without public understanding risks eroding trust,” he warned. “Citizens need to know how to engage with these systems if our democracy is to thrive when the time comes.”
Finally, he challenged government officials to be more accessible to the media to ensure balanced reporting. Addressing the Minister of ICT, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, he said, “The reality on the ground is that opposition voices are present daily, but balance is hard for us when few in government are willing to step forward and speak on our platforms.”
He concluded with a call for collective responsibility: “Uganda needs a fair, balanced, responsible media, and we all have a role to play to achieve it!”
