The African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) has partnered with the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) to equip a new generation of journalists with the skills to hold those in power accountable.
This initiative is part of the Media Support for Public Accountability and Civic Engagement (M-SPACE) project, a multi-donor initiative funded by the Danish, Dutch, Swedish, and Irish governments through their embassies in Uganda. The project aims to build a resilient, accountable, and inclusive media that will strengthen citizens’ participation in governance and democratic processes. The training programme will be followed by a three-month mentorship, helping journalists turn their new skills into impactful stories.
We sat down with Innocent Florence Grace Aloyo, a board member of NUMEC, to hear about the organisation’s journey from a small group of journalists meeting under a tree to becoming a vital force for peace, justice and community empowerment in the region.
ACME: Tell us about the origins of NUMEC.
Innocent Aloyo (IA): The Northern Uganda Media Club, or NUMEC, was started in the 1990s at the height of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war in Northern Uganda. Many young people were struggling to survive, and a lot of them had dropped out of school due to the conflict. A few journalists working in the area came together and formed the Gulu Press Club, an informal group that met under a tree. Their goal was to unite journalists and advocate for their protection. As the group grew, journalists from other districts joined, and it was renamed NUMEC to include the entire northern region. This also allowed the club to help and train young people who weren’t formally trained in journalism or mass communication.
ACME: So once it was formally established, what kind of support did NUMEC offer its members?
IA: At the time, many of our journalists weren’t formally trained and were living in poverty. They couldn’t afford the basic equipment needed for their work, like cameras, phones, or even internet access. They also couldn’t afford to rent an office.
So, one of the first things NUMEC did was secure office premises for journalists to use. This gave them a central place to meet, consult with one another, and do their work. We also installed a generator so they could continue to work and send their stories on time, even when there was no electricity. We also focused heavily on capacity building to help untrained journalists gain the skills they needed to do their jobs effectively.
ACME: That sounds like crucial support. What about when journalists faced legal or ethical issues? Did NUMEC step in?
IA: Yes, we did. Sometimes, when journalists were working under difficult conditions, they would inadvertently violate their professional ethics or even get arrested. NUMEC would step in and help them get bail. We also partnered with other organisations, like the Human Rights Network for Journalists and the Uganda Journalists Association (UJA), to assist our members in court.
Through these partnerships, many of our northern journalists were invited to training sessions in Kampala and other regions. This was a great opportunity for them to interact with and learn from journalists from other areas, which helped them understand the challenges they might face in their careers. For many, this was their first time being exposed to people and places outside of their home regions.
ACME: Beyond supporting journalists, what kind of impact did NUMEC have on the wider community?
IA: NUMEC played a significant role in promoting peace in Northern Uganda. We provided a platform for leaders and politicians to hold press conferences, allowing journalists to cover issues affecting the region and amplify the challenges faced by local people. Religious leaders, under the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative, also used NUMEC to voice their concerns and bring them to the attention of the central government.
Formerly abducted children also came to us to share their stories, and many of them received help as a result. The local community also benefited because journalists were able to produce content that was educational and informative, helping people understand their rights, from civic engagement to land ownership. We found that people were so proud of the work we were doing that they would come to us for advice, especially on land-related disputes, which are a major problem in the region.
ACME: It seems like NUMEC became a lifeline for many. Were there other societal issues the club tackled?
IA: Absolutely. Journalists working with NUMEC helped raise awareness about the struggles of widows and orphans, helping them understand their rights. We also collaborated with organisations and local leaders on environmental issues, amplifying the problem of massive deforestation for charcoal production and the destruction of wetlands. The journalists were at the forefront of this, not only advocating for environmental protection but also educating the public on climate change and how it would affect their lives.
In terms of civic education, our journalists were at the forefront, producing content that informed the community on their rights and what to look for in political manifestos. This helped people follow up with their leaders and hold them accountable.
ACME: That’s a powerful legacy. Can you tell us about your current training with ACME and what you hope to achieve?
IA: We are so happy to be partnering with ACME for this training on public accountability, which is incredibly useful for our journalists. We hope that such training will happen more often—perhaps even every month—to continue building the capacity of our journalists.
There’s a significant gap in public accountability reporting in our region. Many of our journalists don’t do enough investigative work, and some are even afraid of it. We hope this training will give them the courage to improve their investigative reporting and expose wrongdoing without fear or favour. Their reporting is often too shallow, and this training will help them dig deeper.
Innocent Aloyo has worked in the media for over 30 years. She started her career at the New Vision as the first staff reporter attached to the defunct Rupiny Newspaper.
