UPDF, Media Seek Stronger Ties After Friendly Matches

After their friendly football matches with the media fraternity, Uganda Peoples Forces has promised a new era of the working relationships between the two sides.

The two matches; one involving senior army officers and media managers/owners and another between junior officers and journalists were held at Philip Omondi Stadium in Kampala on Friday evening under the initiative of UPDF. 

The Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), General David Muhoozi led the UPDF team while Kin Karisa, the Chairperson of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) captained the media managers.

The UPDF Spokesperson Flavia Byekwaso described the initiative as the beginning of a new era. 

She said more and more activities will be held in, which the two sides will be discussing issues that divide them.

Asked why cynical journalists should take the initiative seriously, Byekwaso said that bringing senior army officers to participate in the activities is a demonstration of their highest level of commitment.   

The initiative is an attempt to mend ties between media and security forces following the heating general elections in which, soldiers made headlines for assaulting journalists covering campaigns and post-campaign events.

Since journalists and the army are in “each other’s face every day,” CDF Muhoozi , said there is a need for a friendlier relationship between the two groups.   

The Human Rights Network for Journalists Uganda (HRNJ-U), Executive Director Robert Sempala said the initiative is welcome. Dialogue is the way to go, he said.