Makerere’s journalism department to be revived

RACHEAL NINSIIMA

Makerere University’s Journalism and Communication department has revealed plans to transform itself into a modern facility, with more equipment and lecture rooms.

Speaking last week at the annual media convention, Dr Aaron Mushengyezi, the acting head of department also promised that the students’ radio station would soon resume broadcasting.

“We already have the architectural plan of what we want the department to look like and have plans of revamping Campus FM, getting it a licence and putting it on air,” Mushengyezi told the convention, held under the theme Investigative Journalism: An adequate Defence of Human Rights and Good Governance?

Prof Oswald Ndolereirwe, the principal of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, pledged to support the department. “The University treasures the profession of journalism and we shall continue to support the Journalism and Communication Department in all its programmes. I wish to inform you that the University Management is aware of the challenges surrounding Campus FM’s closure and will fund it like other laboratories in this University,” he said.

About the convention

The annual media convention is a major activity of the department aimed at advancing debate and discussion on topical issues in the media. This year, the convention brought together experts and practitioners in the media industry to discuss changing trends in investigative journalism.

Dr Monica Chibita, the head of the Mass Communication department at Uganda Christian University, highlighted four dangers limiting investigative journalism in Uganda. These are: litigation, newsroom indifference to detail, maniac tricks where rich people influence information, and a culture of public secrecy. “If we are to see investigative journalism grow, we need to build strategic partnerships to overcome these challenges,” she urged.

At the convention, two students, Donald Odhaimbo and Racheal Ninsiima won the Tebere-Mudin Excellence award and the Cranimer Mugerwa Photojournalism award respectively.

ninsiima@observer.ug