PRAU at 50: Museveni Urges PR Practitioners to Combat Misinformation

President Yoweri Museveni has called upon public relations professionals to actively combat misinformation and champion truthful communication. According to the president, misleading narratives severely undermine the public’s understanding of key national development priorities.

Speaking at the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) Golden Jubilee Conference held in Jinja, President Museveni delivered his message through Joyce Nabbosa Ssebugwawo, the Minister of State for Information Communication Technology and National Guidance. He likened ideological training and factual guidance to immunisation, arguing that citizens require protection from toxic confusion just as much as they need defense against physical diseases.

Museveni encouraged practitioners to maintain high ethical standards, foster institutional reputations, and promote values such as patriotism and Pan-Africanism. He also outlined key government milestones since 1986, emphasizing infrastructural development, industrialization, and expanded market access across the African continent.

During the landmark Golden Jubilee event, PRAU President Irene Nakasita revealed that the association is actively pursuing new legislation to legally anchor professional standards. She noted that a formal legal framework is necessary to effectively enforce codes of conduct, address misconduct, and combat the systemic underfunding and lack of recognition that communication departments often face within organizations.

Nakasita also addressed the rise of artificial intelligence, reassuring members that technology should merely complement rather than replace human creativity, storytelling, and strategic insight. Established in May 1976, PRAU now boasts over 500 members spanning government agencies, the private sector, and various development organizations.

Read the original story on the Daily Monitor.