media 3 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
World Press Freedom Day: AI Misuse and Journalist Pay Issues Take Center Stage in Uganda
Uganda marked World Press Freedom Day with discussions on the risks of AI in journalism and persistent low or unpaid wages for reporters. Media leaders and officials called for human oversight in AI use and accountability from media owners amid industry challenges. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/world-press-freedom-day-misuse-of-ai-low-pay-dominate-event-5445580
Uganda joined global celebrations for World Press Freedom Day under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace: Promoting Press Freedom for Human Rights, Development and Security.” The event at UBC grounds gathered journalists, government representatives, and civil society to discuss the media landscape.
A major focus was the misuse of artificial intelligence in newsrooms. Godfrey Baluku Kabbyanga warned that AI often generates inaccurate content, such as speeches with wrong statistics from unrelated countries. He urged editors to maintain human checks for reliability.
Low pay and non-payment of journalists emerged as another critical concern. Kabbyanga noted ongoing complaints and encouraged affected workers to approach the Uganda Media Council. Despite over 300 radio stations competing for ads, he insisted media owners must run sustainable businesses without exploiting staff.
Lamex Omara Apitta from the Uganda Human Rights Commission described the day’s walk as a show of unity, praising the media’s role in elections and public discourse, including debates on bills like the Sovereignty Bill.
UBC, via Wilfred Senyange, committed to ethical reporting, stressing accuracy and national interest while embracing tech like AI. They called for government support to ensure journalist safety and responsible press freedom.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)