Zawedde urges media, government to unite against misinformation

What the report says

ICT Permanent Secretary Dr Aminah Zawedde has urged closer cooperation among government, media houses and regulators to address misinformation, disinformation and hate speech in Uganda. She made the appeal in Kampala at the World News Day 2026 Editors’ Breakfast Meeting, which was held under the theme “Trust, Truth and the Future of News in Uganda.”

According to Nile Post, Zawedde said the fast pace of digital publishing is making it harder to separate verified reporting from false or misleading claims. She also raised questions about how Uganda defines a professional journalist in an era when people outside traditional newsrooms can quickly reach large audiences through online platforms.

Zawedde said the issue should be treated as a shared responsibility involving government, Parliament, regulators, journalists and the wider public. She noted that the Media Council and other bodies face resource and technology challenges as the media space expands, and she argued that stronger tools are needed to keep pace with new platforms.

She also warned that false information can damage Uganda’s reputation, investment climate and public wellbeing, citing earlier misinformation around Ebola as an example of broader harm. Zawedde called for practical short-, medium- and long-term steps, with particular focus on media and digital literacy for young people, who she said make up much of the online audience.