This keynote address, delivered by Mr Phillip Karugaba at Makerere University during the Uganda Media Sector Working Group’s World Press Freedom Day Symposium 2025, speaks to the role of journalism in Uganda’s democratic life. Drawing from recent political events and historical context, Karugaba reflects on the resilience of journalists, the erosion of public trust in democratic institutions, and the urgent need for a renewed commitment to ethical reporting, civic engagement, and truth-telling in the lead-up to the 2026 elections.
Speech by Mr Phillip Karugaba
Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
Uganda Media Sector Working Group World Press Freedom Day Symposium 2025
6 May 2025 – Defending Truth in an Age of Polarisation and Mistrust in the Context of the Media and Elections
Thank you.
In tribute to Shaka Ssali, I will say I am “profoundly honoured and exceedingly humbled” to be addressing you today, on the Ugandanised theme for this World Press Freedom Day: “Defending Truth in an Age of Polarisation and Mistrust in the Context of the Media and Elections.”
I address you—scarred journalists braving threats, media owners navigating pressure, citizens fighting for better, and regulators shaping our future.
Your scars tell a story of courage. Some might even joke that Ugandan journalists are easy to spot in a crowd—they are the ones with scars and limps! But your resilience is not a joking subject.
We salute you, heroes of the fourth estate, for your bravery, for your courage, and for your dedication in your work. Risks are high, rewards in earthly terms are comparatively low, and yet you persist.
As Pius Nsajja said yesterday in his piece in the Daily Monitor, “Journalism is not merely about reporting facts; it is about safeguarding democracy, amplifying marginalised voices, and holding power to account. Journalists are not just messengers; they are frontline defenders of human rights and democratic values.”
You do this for us—omussasi waffe.
It is amazing how often journalists have been jailed and newspapers banned by almost every government since colonial times! Not to say that the press has always been united—quite the contrary. There has always been polarisation: some sections of the press in favour (government-owned, linked or controlled), some seemingly outright against the regime, and others striving for truth and independence.
Kawempe North by-election
Kawempe North is our most recent by-election—13 March 2025. What does it say about polarisation, mistrust, media and elections?
Battered and bleeding journalists.
Violence.
Voter apathy.
The unforgettable image of a Mamba—an armoured personnel carrier (APC), a war machine—parked at a polling station.
An ordinary civic exercise of citizens choosing their leaders was turned into an act of terror. The polling station became a war zone. Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce (JATT) operatives wearing balaclavas unleashed violence on citizens, with a particular premium on journalists.
Did democracy win in Kawempe North?
Whose voices did we hear?
Whose power did we feel?
Did the people express their free choice?
Kawempe North is a warning for 2026. It shows us a crisis of mistrust, polarisation, and apathy threatening our democracy.
Let’s break it down.
1. The crisis: Mistrust, polarisation and apathy in Uganda
Mistrust poisons Uganda’s democracy.
- Only 26% trust the Electoral Commission.
- 65% see media as government-controlled.
- 61% doubt our courts.
Polarisation, fuelled by ethnic divides and social media bots, turns neighbours into rivals.
Apathy keeps 43% of voters home, convinced their voice doesn’t matter.
Political parties claim 46.2 million voters, double the 23.2 million eligible voters according to the 2024 census.
- NRM claims 19.8 million
- NUP claims 10 million
- FDC claims 10 million
- UPC claims 6 million
This inflates mistrust in our electoral process.
Is this just the “age” of mistrust?
No. This is Uganda’s reality.
Polarisation in the sense of differences of opinion is, to me, a neutral value. Having differences of opinion is an ordinary societal tension—and it can serve to heighten citizen participation in governance.
Look at the last Uganda Law Society election.
Yes, it was polarised—sharp divides between the lawyers along all sorts of lines: rebels, decorum, stilettos and so on. The result? The highest voter turnout in a ULS election.
2. Defending truth: Rebuilding trust and igniting citizen agency
Journalists, you are guardians of truth.
Report ethically. Verify facts. Admit mistakes.
Journalists can help uplift civic competence. Amplify calls for:
- A fair Electoral Commission
- A transparent electoral process
- Freedom of expression
- Protection of journalistic work
Let your reporting rebuild trust and ignite agency.
You hold the pen, the camera, the mic—but above all, you hold the people’s trust.
Don’t just inform. Inspire.
Don’t just cover. Uncover.
Don’t just survive. Lead.
Phillip Karugaba is a distinguished Ugandan lawyer and Partner at ENSafrica Uganda, where he specialises in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and infrastructure law. With over 25 years of legal experience, he has been instrumental in shaping Uganda’s corporate legal landscape, including contributions to legislative reforms such as the Ugandan Capital Markets Regulations . Karugaba has also been involved in legislative changes in Uganda and previously lectured at Makerere University’s Faculty of Law. Beyond his corporate practice, Karugaba is a vocal advocate for press freedom and media professionalism.
