By Julius Mugaga Tukacungurwa/Umoja Standard.
KAMPALA: In a rare role reversal, journalists swapped notebooks for front-row seats on Saturday as the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Uganda turned its Makerere Kikoni offices into a red-carpet tribute for the media to mark International Press Freedom Day.
Instead of chasing sources, reporters were the story. Organizers rolled out a VIP welcome for media professionals, framing the celebration as a thank-you to a sector often praised in speeches but rarely celebrated up close. The May 3 observance, rooted in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration and formalized by the UN in 1993, honors the right to a free press and remembers journalists killed in the line of duty.
“Despite the many institutions we write about daily, very few take time to appreciate the work journalists do,” said Ronald Kabuye, Public Relations Officer at the Uganda Journalists Association, speaking for his colleagues. “This recognition means a lot, especially in a profession where challenges are constant.”
Kabuye did not shy from the realities facing the press, citing intimidation and harassment by security agencies. Yet he urged resilience: “Our work is essential in informing, educating, and uplifting society.”
Mr. Woory Daniel Lim, Head Instructor of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Uganda, called journalists “key partners in building communities and shaping the nation.” He added, “Through your reporting, truth is shared, awareness is created, and lives are impacted.”
The event went beyond podium remarks. The church’s children’s department took the stage with drama and creative pieces that portrayed how a single story can shift mindsets and transform neighborhoods — a vivid illustration of journalism’s ripple effect.
Organizers said the gathering also opened dialogue on giving more media space to faith-based initiatives and stories of social cohesion. For the reporters in attendance, the day served as both a morale boost and a sobering reminder: press freedom is celebrated, but still fought for.
As global watchdogs continue to raise alarms over shrinking civic space, Saturday’s celebration in Kikoni offered a different script — one where the press was not just quoted, but honored.
