news 10 November 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
New Uganda Journalists Association Leadership Vows to Fight Arbitrary Arrests and Poor Pay
Emmanuel Kirunda has been elected as the new president of the Uganda Journalists Association, using his inaugural address to demand an end to state-sponsored violence and better economic welfare for media workers. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/journalists-decry-arbitrary-arrests-torture-as-uja-elects-new-leadership-5665348
Media practitioners in Uganda have once again sounded the alarm over the escalating threats to press freedom, highlighting persistent issues of arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and torture by security personnel. These concerns took center stage during the recent elections for the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) executive leadership team.
Emmanuel Kirunda, a journalist with the Vision Group, assumed the UJA presidency through consensus after his main challenger stepped down. In his acceptance speech, Kirunda firmly committed to protecting media workers from state-sponsored harassment and ensuring that journalists can execute their duties without fearing for their safety.
“We must continue defending journalists facing arrest, detention, intimidation, and other forms of harassment in the course of their professional duties,” Kirunda stated. He emphasized that genuine press freedom must encompass more than just the liberty to publish; it must guarantee fair remuneration and proper working conditions.
Rizik Kalungi Agonzibwa, who was elected as Vice President after withdrawing from the presidential race, echoed these sentiments. She stressed the urgent need for structured welfare mechanisms, including financial support systems for medical emergencies and dedicated educational scholarships to foster career growth among media practitioners.
The new leadership takes the helm at a critical time when journalists across the country continue to grapple with the physical and emotional trauma inflicted during high-profile political events, such as the 2021 general elections and subsequent by-elections. Members of the association strongly urged the judiciary to hold perpetrators of press freedom violations accountable to end the culture of impunity.
The newly elected UJA national executive committee also features Kabuye Ronald as Secretary-General, Kigongo Issa as Treasurer, and Damba Tadeo as Organizing Secretary, alongside various regional representatives to oversee matters nationwide.
Read more details about the new leadership from the Daily Monitor.