The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has urged journalists to give greater visibility to vulnerable and marginalised groups in their reporting to promote equal opportunities, raise public awareness and combat discrimination.
The Commission made the call during a dialogue with online and digital media journalists aimed at strengthening inclusive reporting and improving public understanding of the rights of marginalised communities.
Yusuf Muziransa, the EOC Principal Information and Communications Officer, said journalists should pay greater attention to the experiences of groups that often face barriers to accessing opportunities and essential services.
“The Commission has a broad mandate that touches the lives of many Ugandans, particularly those who experience discrimination and marginalisation. Unfortunately, public awareness of our work remains limited,” Muziransa said.
He urged digital journalists to work closely with the Commission to publicise its mandate, programmes and interventions, as well as the avenues available to people seeking redress for discrimination.
“We believe stronger collaboration with online media can help bridge this gap and ensure that more people understand their rights and know where to seek redress,” he said.
Muziransa called on journalists to give greater prominence to the experiences of women, persons with disabilities, older persons, children and other vulnerable groups in their reporting.
He emphasised that inclusive journalism should go beyond highlighting the challenges faced by these communities to examine the structural barriers that prevent them from fully participating in and benefiting from Uganda’s social, economic, political and cultural development.
Dr Shaft Nasser Mukwaya, the Secretary to the EOC, said digital media had become an important channel for the Commission to engage the public because of its speed, accessibility and wide reach.
“Digital media has transformed how we communicate with the public. It offers us an opportunity to reach millions of Ugandans quickly and directly,” Mukwaya said.
He noted that the Commission needed to work closely with digital journalists to effectively fulfil its mandate and reach communities that may have limited access to information about their rights.
“If we are to effectively deliver our mandate, we must embrace these platforms and work closely with the journalists who use them to inform and engage the public,” he said.
The dialogue also explored ways in which the EOC and digital media practitioners could strengthen their collaboration to improve public understanding of equal opportunities and promote fair, accurate and inclusive representation in the media.
The Commission said sustained engagement with online journalists would help increase public awareness of its work, enable more Ugandans to understand their rights and make it easier for those experiencing discrimination to access its services.
