Govt Calls for Media-State Alliance Against Misinformation

In a call for unified action, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, emphasized the critical need for a collaborative approach involving the government, media houses, and regulators to address the pervasive challenges of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech.

Speaking at the World News Day 2026 Editors’ Breakfast Meeting in Kampala, under the theme “Trust, Truth and the Future of News in Uganda,” Zawedde highlighted how rapid technological advancements have blurred the lines between factual reporting and false narratives, leading to the swift circulation of unverified news.

She cited the example of fluctuating reports regarding King Oyo’s health, illustrating how divergent and often inaccurate stories can spread before facts are established. Zawedde also raised pertinent questions about defining a professional journalist in the current digital age, where individuals outside traditional media can widely disseminate information.

This prompted a challenge to the Media Council and other stakeholders to clarify regulatory frameworks and adapt them to the evolving media landscape. “It’s high time we went down and sat at the table to clearly define this, so that we are all speaking the same language,” Zawedde urged.

While acknowledging the resource constraints faced by regulatory bodies, Zawedde stressed that the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of Uganda’s information space is shared by journalists, media organizations, and the public. The consequences of unchecked misinformation, she warned, extend beyond the media industry, impacting the nation’s reputation, investment climate, and opportunities for citizens.

Particular attention was drawn to the digital habits of young people, who are primary users of online platforms. Zawedde advocated for early media and digital literacy education for this demographic, drawing a parallel to an Ugandan proverb about nurturing young plants. The detrimental effects of misinformation were underscored by the example of Ebola myths, which led to international isolation and economic hardship for the country.

Zawedde concluded by urging government, Parliament, regulators, and media houses to leverage the World News Day forum to identify practical, actionable solutions for misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, proposing the development of short, medium, and long-term implementation plans.

For more details, please refer to Nile Post.