media 14 April 2026 The Observer (Uganda)
Media Council Reopens Old Case, Summons The Observer Over Two Stories
Uganda's Media Council has summoned The Observer newspaper for hearings on April 15, reviving a 2021 complaint about alleged health fund diversion and addressing a 2024 report on parliamentary bribery. The newspaper questions the council's jurisdiction, procedural fairness, and complainant clarity amid tensions over media independence. Source: https://observer.ug/news/media-council-summons-the-observer-again
The Observer newspaper faces renewed scrutiny from Uganda’s Media Council, nearly five years after an initial summons over a controversial March 2021 story. That report accused Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine of diverting health funds. The editors complied with hearings and submissions by 2023, expecting a ruling that never came. Now, a summons dated April 8, 2026, demands fresh defenses, prompting editor Robert Spin Mukasa to decry the lack of explanation as procedural unfairness.
A second summons targets a 2024 article alleging MPs received bribes to block government agency mergers. The Council claims it erodes trust in parliament, described as democracy’s cornerstone. Managing editor Pius Muteekani Katunzi highlights ambiguities: the complainant’s identity—possibly Chairman Paulo Ekochu, parliament, or the Council itself—is unclear, raising bias concerns.
Katunzi notes the Speaker’s past threats of legal action never materialized, suggesting Ekochu acts on her behalf. In a May 20, 2024 letter, The Observer refused to attend, arguing the Council’s invalid composition under the Press and Journalist Act strips it of jurisdiction.
This clash underscores broader debates on media regulation versus editorial freedom, especially in politically charged reporting. The April 15 hearing could test oversight limits, journalist rights, and institutional resilience in Uganda.
Source: The Observer (Uganda)