NAB, Electoral Commission Top Bosses Meet Ahead Of 2026 General Elections

NAB, Electoral Commission Top Bosses Meet Ahead Of 2026 General Elections

Posted on 16 July 2024 0
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By Frank Kamuntu

Kampala: National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) executive committee members led by their Chairman Dr.Innocent Nahabwe, who is the CEO Galaxy Fm and Galaxy TV (not comfortable writing his slogans) on Monday met with the Electoral Commission’s top leadership led by its Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama. The meeting was in respect to the forthcoming 2026 general elections and the role of the media in ensuring a smooth electoral process.

Nahabwe pledged the Association’s readiness to boost the EC activities for successful 2026 elections reiterating the media’s critical role in a free and fair electoral process. Nahabwe however proposed that the EC ought to meet and harmonize with security organs who also play an important role in the electoral process in order to find solutions to challenges of journalists suffering in the ‘crossfire’ amongst political players while covering the same.

”Our willingness to work with you is sometimes limited by the brutality meted on our journalists during elections. In 2021 some of our journalists were beaten and cameras broken. We don’t need to see such happening again in 2026. Therefore, we propose that you organize a meeting with the security operatives and invite us to discuss how we can smoothly work together,” said Nahabwe.

Some Of The NAB Members In The Meeting With The Electoral Commission

Justice Byabakama embraced Nahabwe’s idea and promised to organize the meeting. He however expressed discontentment with what he called ‘biased reporting’ from the media.

”First I want to assure you that EC appreciates your support and to inform you that indeed we need you because we can’t do anything without your support. However, am unhappy with some of your colleagues,I think we can polish and start reporting facts not biased headlines and exaggerations. The other day I saw a headline, ‘It’s too late for electoral reforms-says Byabakama’, really, when did I say that? he noted.

The meeting was also attended by the TheSpy Uganda CEO, Andrew Irumba Katusabe who represents online journalists on NAB top Executive Committee. In his remarks, Irumba, who is the President Independent Online Journalists Association (Indoja-U) requested EC to not only prioritize mainstream media for business but also appreciate the role of online media in the electoral process.

Andrew Irumba [L] In A Brief Chat With EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama [R] Shortly After The Meeting
”Mr Chairman, I bring you warm greetings from the online media fraternity. I federate at NAB on their behalf. Your Lordship Justice, online media played a very significant role in the previous elections,we’re the ones who break the stories. we give instant updates about the whole election process. But when it comes to business, EC doesn’t consider us to be serious partners on matters of finance, we’re only partners on information dissemination, when it comes to business, we’re no where. It’s my humble prayer that you consider us while you allocating resources for the forthcoming elections,” Irumba requested.

In response, the EC Chairman Byabakama assured President Irumba that his appeal would be honored in the 2026 budget. “Mr.president, this has been well received and it’s a legitimate concern, the good thing we’ve engaging you early to iron out such issues,” Byabakama said.

After Rwanda, whose elections were conducted this July, Uganda will be the next in the region to go to the ballot in 2026.

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