Makerere University Holds The 25th Annual Media Convention
For the 25th time running, the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University held the annual media convention, a gathering that brings together Journalists, editors, communication experts, and students to reflect and to reimagine the future role of the press in a digital age defined by speed, disruption, and misinformation.
This year, the event was held under the theme: “Responsible Media Reporting & Communication During Elections.”
As Uganda heads to the polls in January 2026, the media is one of the sectors strongly hit and affected in every election season. Delivering her keynote address, seasoned journalist and former head of Former BBC Senior News Editor & Head of East Africa, also an alumna of the department, challenged the journalists to strike a balance between speed and efficiency in the age of AI.
She said, “Trust is what sets us apart from influencers, content creators and bloggers. Media literacy must now evolve into AI literacy. People need to know how to decipher what is AI-generated from what is real.”
In a call to action, Ms Akidi invited the emerging journalists to interest themselves in data as a way of determining the truth. She said, “ When audiences can’t tell what is true, they stop trusting all media. Today, we are also regarded and dismissed as fake.”
With over 25 years of experience as a practising journalist, Rachael observed, “This generation just doesn’t watch elections unfold. They shape narrative and discussion of the election online through blogging, social media posts and podcasting. Technology has lowered the entry barrier into journalism.
Ahead of the 2026 elections, she called upon the journalists to bridge the gap in information dissemination. In her appeal, she said, “Fact-checking and Information verification should be at the centre of our newsroom process during this delicate election season. Voters are increasingly being exposed to misinformation because nobody is moderating these discussions.”
Speaking at the convention, Dr William Tayeebwa, a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Communication at Makerere University, echoed the need for journalistic professionalism in this season. “I stand on the solid footing of the principles of the journalism profession. Whether content creators, influencers, there should be a certain degree of professionalism when covering elections.”
Julius Mucunguzi, an alumna of the department and the spokesperson of the Electoral Commission, said, “The media are as much of a target of misinformation by political groups as the voters.” He cautioned the journalists covering the elections to “…ensure that elections are conducted within the laws of the land.” He sadly noted that the press is often caught on the wrong side of the existing laws.
Racheal Mugarura-Mutana, the Programme Manager, Training and Online Resources, the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME), appealed to the journalists to embrace re-education. “Embrace what needs to be embraced and pivot where they need to pivot. There is a process of rapid re-education of the media on how the population reacts with information using technology.”
The convention also served as a reminder of the department’s legacy. Established in 1988 as the Department of Mass Communication, it was the first degree-granting program of its kind in East Africa, and has since nurtured generations of media professionals who continue to shape the national and regional discourse.
As the 25th Annual Media Convention drew to a close, one thing was clear: Uganda’s media stands at a crossroads. With elections approaching, the responsibility to inform, verify, and uphold trust has never been greater.
