The Prime Minister Rt Hon Dr Ruhakana Rugunda urged both security forces and media to know their roles in Uganda’s development process. He noted that Security forces and media can either save the country or destroy it if the two don’t mature in the way they serve the nation. “Security forces and the media are complementary since both can exist on the frontline with guns and pens,” said Dr Rugunda. The PM was presiding over the Senior Security Leaders and Media Executives End of Year Dinner 2018 held at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs General Headquarters(MODVA HQ) in Mbuya yesterday evening.
Rt Hon Dr Rugunda urged the media to avoid confrontation publications and focus on issues that can transform Uganda, Africa and the world.
Dr Rugunda also urged both the media and security forces to work together by creating more interactions to galvanize a common understanding between where the country came from, where it is and where it is supposed to be. “Having a common ideological base will make us move the country forward because we are at the take-off stage that requires all of us to play our roles,” noted Dr Rugunda, adding that security remains a cornerstone in providing an environment for the work of the media and vice-versa.
The Security Minister Hon Gen Elly Tumwine who hosted the dinner noted that security starts with oneself and spreads out and that no government can eliminate all negativity thus necessitating the presence of security forces. He observed that choosing to go with negativity or positivity is one’s choice because the world moves with quality and value rather than numbers.
Gen Tumwine further said that the media nowadays is the biggest threat in the world and implored the military to understand the relationship between the two for national development to take root. “You cannot ignore media these days, most especially social media,” he noted.
The Minister of State for Defence in charge of Veteran Affairs Hon Dr. Lt Col Bright Rwamirama on behalf of the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon Adolf Mwesigye, applauded the joint partnership between the security forces and the media fraternity, most especially when dealing with issues that address national development and prosperity. He said Uganda is currently more peaceful, respects media freedoms and more stable because of the close partnership between security forces and the media. Hon Rwamirama called upon media to stop doing it alone and rather interact with Ministries, Departments and Agencies to improve the performance of the country.
The chairman of National Broadcasters Association Dr. Kin Kaliisa commended security forces for stabilizing the country. He requested the media to appreciate the role of security forces whenever success is achieved and often provide room for interaction in case of discrepancies.
“As media we should not feel ashamed to appreciate what security forces have achieved and we should aim at working together to achieve the general objective of transforming the country,” said Dr Kaliisa.
The chairman of the Uganda Media Council Mr Paul Oketcho lauded both security and media for being disciplined in performance of their roles; which has led to the stability of the country.
The first senior security leaders and media executives end of yeariu dinner 2018 was attended by Cabinet Ministers, Senior Security Chiefs and Members representing media houses, among others.