http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Letters/-/440806/513182/-/ibcho1/-/index.html
Posted Sunday, January 11 2009 at 16:20
I’m a journalist writing from Makerere University. In Kenya, just like in many other developing countries, journalists are treated like criminals, if not worse.
The government in Kenya does not recognise the media. Its role is neglected as draconian laws are enacted any time the powers that be feel like.
The constitution states clearly that there is freedom of expression. According to Louis Hodges, a scholar on media ethics, scribes should act as checks and balances on the government and inform the public about the government’s dos and don’ts.
But, I’m surprised that in Kenya, the role has changed, as the government is the one that puts checks on the media.
Look at our role model journalists in Kenya; they are in and out of prison, accused of sedition, defamation or any crime authorities may think of, not to forget cases like interfering in national security.
One leader in Kenya stated that no one is more Kenyan than him, and everyone belongs and cares about his country; therefore journalists should be treated with respect just like any other person in the society.
We know the work of doctors, lawyers, teachers and we respect them without intervention. Why can’t the journalists be left to perform their duty of informing the public without any government intervention?
Journalists know their work, they have enough codes guiding their ethics.
The time, energy and resources that the government is using on media, should instead be used on trying to improve the economy and having neutral electoral commissioners members.
After all, the country has more pressing issues or needs that are ignored.
As I write, I’m worried that with the current media laws , this article may not be published, but it is better to try and fail than fail to try.
On pressing issues, the public should be involved. They should vote whether a law should be enacted or not.
Or does the government not trust people who put it into power and who can take the power from it after five years?
SUSAN WAMUYU,
Kampala
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Why can't African leaders learn from America?
Monday, 15th December, 2008
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/664693
EDITOR—Just like in Uganda, Kenyans are also demanding a change of Electoral Commission (EC) officials, but the real question is, is it the officials who are to blame or is it the electorate and the government at large.
These officials are not strangers to us. They are our brothers, fathers or mothers. The people we ant to replace them with are also amidst us and it is not a guarantee that they are not going to be corrupt like their predecessors, if not more.
It is also important to note that it is becoming an African phenomenon to complain, refuse and protest against the system if the opposition loses. Countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya have one thing in common—dissatisfaction with election results.
As much as there might be irregularities in the electoral system, the leaders and their supporters should accept that this is a weakness in African countries. Instead of fighting or causing chaos, they should unite and come up with a solution to the problem.
After all, even if the opposition was to win in an election, members of the ruling party would also complain about the same irregularities, existent or not! Why can’t African leaders buy the American example?
In America, the elections were fair, with no race conflict, corruption or bias. When Barack Obama won the election, his opponent, John McCain conceded defeat, congratulated him and encouraged his supporters to embrace Obama as their new president.
Once there is a weakness in the EC or if the society is dissatisfied with an election, this exposes the weakness of a government, and not exactly the EC. When there is war, disagreement or discrimination in a nation, all the blame is always pointed to the government.
It is the role of the government to protect and unite its people otherwise it betrays a loophole in its system.
Susan Wamuyu.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/664693
EDITOR—Just like in Uganda, Kenyans are also demanding a change of Electoral Commission (EC) officials, but the real question is, is it the officials who are to blame or is it the electorate and the government at large.
These officials are not strangers to us. They are our brothers, fathers or mothers. The people we ant to replace them with are also amidst us and it is not a guarantee that they are not going to be corrupt like their predecessors, if not more.
It is also important to note that it is becoming an African phenomenon to complain, refuse and protest against the system if the opposition loses. Countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Kenya have one thing in common—dissatisfaction with election results.
As much as there might be irregularities in the electoral system, the leaders and their supporters should accept that this is a weakness in African countries. Instead of fighting or causing chaos, they should unite and come up with a solution to the problem.
After all, even if the opposition was to win in an election, members of the ruling party would also complain about the same irregularities, existent or not! Why can’t African leaders buy the American example?
In America, the elections were fair, with no race conflict, corruption or bias. When Barack Obama won the election, his opponent, John McCain conceded defeat, congratulated him and encouraged his supporters to embrace Obama as their new president.
Once there is a weakness in the EC or if the society is dissatisfied with an election, this exposes the weakness of a government, and not exactly the EC. When there is war, disagreement or discrimination in a nation, all the blame is always pointed to the government.
It is the role of the government to protect and unite its people otherwise it betrays a loophole in its system.
Susan Wamuyu.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Exposing life at ‘Campus’
By Susan Wamuyu
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sunday_life/Exposing_life_at_Campus_76788.shtml
When joining the university, I had a lot of expectations. I had listened to a million stories from friends who were there before, from teachers who were students there once, and even from people who have never been there!
I remember my mother, teachers, uncles and brothers encouraging me to complete my high school education for all the fun was yet to come if I joined the university. This was a great inspiration to me as I looked forward to the day I would join “Campus”. I fantasised I would be free like a bird aiming to fly as far as my wings could carry me.
Little did I know I was just fantasising. They told me that at the university, no one forced you to attend classes, or sit for exams. Nevertheless, they hardly told me that at the end of it all, it was a must for me to pass exams in order to graduate.
I was told that at university, I could go out to nightclubs as much as I wanted but they did not tell me that I would need money to do that. My little pocket money could not take care of as many outings as I would have wished. Everything was left for me to learn; it was an examination of its own.
The day I joined Makerere University, I was in for a big surprise. Settling down was hard. Making friends was harder, for most of them preferred someone as rich as them if not more.
At ‘A’ level, everything was done for me. My breakfast, lunch and supper were ever on time. Any delay from the kitchen could provoke a protest from students. All students ate the same type of food, slept on the same type of beds, and dressed uniformly. An attempt to find out who was richer than the other was futile.
At Makerere, where I expected joy, total independence and peace, I found the opposite. I had to prepare my own meals, buy my own unique and modern outfits to fit in society and to avoid students talking behind my back. I also had to attend classes without anyone reminding me that I needed to do so. Really, somebody should have told me that this is what I had worked hard for.
At the university, ‘sugar daddies’ come to search for the young, beautiful and desperate campus ladies. Sugar mummies are not left behind either as they search for young men for the fun of their moments. It is just like the scramble and partition of immorality. Girls and boys need money to survive the Campus expectations and sugar daddies and sugar mummies are ready to provide the money as they exploit them.
I was told to be wary of such acts but never that university life was so demanding. God, I wish someone could come up and expose university life as the root of many evils; where people don’t work but spend more than their pocket money, and those who work spend more than they earn.
However, Campus life is all about who has and who does not have; discrimination here is at its highest peak. This is where every man is for himself and God is for us all. It is a matter of survival of the fittest. No one really cares what life holds for others and no one takes time to educate us before letting us out to partake of this tough examination.
We are only left to learn from our failures and live with regrets, wishing somebody who really cared had warned us. We are never safe from the constant blame from our families and the fingers pointed at us by the society.
I realise now that at the university, to have a decent and comfortable life, one has to look for friends who are genuine and good in all ways, not really the rich and financially well off, go for outings rarely, attend classes often, sit for exams and dress to your best, not for their best. Life at Campus is not a bed of roses. It is riddled with ups and downs.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/sunday_life/Exposing_life_at_Campus_76788.shtml
When joining the university, I had a lot of expectations. I had listened to a million stories from friends who were there before, from teachers who were students there once, and even from people who have never been there!
I remember my mother, teachers, uncles and brothers encouraging me to complete my high school education for all the fun was yet to come if I joined the university. This was a great inspiration to me as I looked forward to the day I would join “Campus”. I fantasised I would be free like a bird aiming to fly as far as my wings could carry me.
Little did I know I was just fantasising. They told me that at the university, no one forced you to attend classes, or sit for exams. Nevertheless, they hardly told me that at the end of it all, it was a must for me to pass exams in order to graduate.
I was told that at university, I could go out to nightclubs as much as I wanted but they did not tell me that I would need money to do that. My little pocket money could not take care of as many outings as I would have wished. Everything was left for me to learn; it was an examination of its own.
The day I joined Makerere University, I was in for a big surprise. Settling down was hard. Making friends was harder, for most of them preferred someone as rich as them if not more.
At ‘A’ level, everything was done for me. My breakfast, lunch and supper were ever on time. Any delay from the kitchen could provoke a protest from students. All students ate the same type of food, slept on the same type of beds, and dressed uniformly. An attempt to find out who was richer than the other was futile.
At Makerere, where I expected joy, total independence and peace, I found the opposite. I had to prepare my own meals, buy my own unique and modern outfits to fit in society and to avoid students talking behind my back. I also had to attend classes without anyone reminding me that I needed to do so. Really, somebody should have told me that this is what I had worked hard for.
At the university, ‘sugar daddies’ come to search for the young, beautiful and desperate campus ladies. Sugar mummies are not left behind either as they search for young men for the fun of their moments. It is just like the scramble and partition of immorality. Girls and boys need money to survive the Campus expectations and sugar daddies and sugar mummies are ready to provide the money as they exploit them.
I was told to be wary of such acts but never that university life was so demanding. God, I wish someone could come up and expose university life as the root of many evils; where people don’t work but spend more than their pocket money, and those who work spend more than they earn.
However, Campus life is all about who has and who does not have; discrimination here is at its highest peak. This is where every man is for himself and God is for us all. It is a matter of survival of the fittest. No one really cares what life holds for others and no one takes time to educate us before letting us out to partake of this tough examination.
We are only left to learn from our failures and live with regrets, wishing somebody who really cared had warned us. We are never safe from the constant blame from our families and the fingers pointed at us by the society.
I realise now that at the university, to have a decent and comfortable life, one has to look for friends who are genuine and good in all ways, not really the rich and financially well off, go for outings rarely, attend classes often, sit for exams and dress to your best, not for their best. Life at Campus is not a bed of roses. It is riddled with ups and downs.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
EAC legislators are spendthrifts
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/letters/Cheap_credit_handouts_have_never_eradicated_poverty_76608.shtml
The story about the EAC spending 40 per cent of its budget on hotels does not come as a surprise to me. Our African leaders use a lot of public funds on their personal issues other than improving lives of their wretched electorate. Their allowances are too high, if not obscene. But nobody cares to ask why. Before questioning the officials of EAC on their immoral misuse of public funds, it is better to start with their counterparts; the legislators and other government officials in their respective countries on their penchant abuse of public funds.
Look at the number of ministers in Kenya and the assistant ministers who in some cases are more than two. Doesn’t this explain why poverty is a trademark of East Africa? How can we progress in our economy if all the public money goes in the pockets of a few individuals instead of improving our economy? These are the questions which such MPs should meditate upon, daily.
Susan Wamuyu,
Makerere University
The story about the EAC spending 40 per cent of its budget on hotels does not come as a surprise to me. Our African leaders use a lot of public funds on their personal issues other than improving lives of their wretched electorate. Their allowances are too high, if not obscene. But nobody cares to ask why. Before questioning the officials of EAC on their immoral misuse of public funds, it is better to start with their counterparts; the legislators and other government officials in their respective countries on their penchant abuse of public funds.
Look at the number of ministers in Kenya and the assistant ministers who in some cases are more than two. Doesn’t this explain why poverty is a trademark of East Africa? How can we progress in our economy if all the public money goes in the pockets of a few individuals instead of improving our economy? These are the questions which such MPs should meditate upon, daily.
Susan Wamuyu,
Makerere University
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Self-inflicted poverty
Sunday, 7th December,
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/663223
EDITOR—The story about the EAC spending 40% on hotels does not come as a surprise to me!
African leaders use a lot of public funds on personal affairs rather than improving the lives of their wretched electorate.
Their allowances are very high, if not obscene. but who cares!
Before questioning the officials of the EAC on their immoral expenditure, it is better to put to task their role models, the legislators and other government officials, in their countries, for their penchant misuse of public funds. Isn’t it weird that these officials are paid a lot of money for doing almost no work?
Look at the number of ministers in Kenya and the assistant ministers who in some cases are more than two! Doesn’t this explain why poverty is a ‘qualification’ of East African countries?
How can we progress economically if all public money goes into the pockets of a few individuals?
Susan Wamuyu,
Makerere University
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/21/663223
EDITOR—The story about the EAC spending 40% on hotels does not come as a surprise to me!
African leaders use a lot of public funds on personal affairs rather than improving the lives of their wretched electorate.
Their allowances are very high, if not obscene. but who cares!
Before questioning the officials of the EAC on their immoral expenditure, it is better to put to task their role models, the legislators and other government officials, in their countries, for their penchant misuse of public funds. Isn’t it weird that these officials are paid a lot of money for doing almost no work?
Look at the number of ministers in Kenya and the assistant ministers who in some cases are more than two! Doesn’t this explain why poverty is a ‘qualification’ of East African countries?
How can we progress economically if all public money goes into the pockets of a few individuals?
Susan Wamuyu,
Makerere University
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
GIFTED HANDS
They say that journalists have gifted hands,their eyes see so far,their ears are always listening and their hands are ready to grab any helpful information.If anybody tells you that journalists do not work,look at them on the face,direct in the eye and tell them that journalists work on behalf of the whole society.They are the primary link between the government and the society,the link between business men and their clients, not to forget that they entertain people when they are tired.
They keep us updated with what is taking place in the world and set for us important agendas in the society.They expose the weakness' of people in the society and help them to become better people.Woodrow said that,if he was to choose between government and the media he will choose the media.This can be good because government favours a certain class of people unlike the media that favours nobody,it gives facts as they are and gives a chance to the society to judge.we don't have opposition in the media where public resources are wasted with campaigns,in media industry,journalists from different media houses compete,not for their own personal interest but the desire to give the society the best news,the desire to play their role of informing the public as they deserve.
All in all,whatever media houses do is not for their own benefit to a larger extent but the benefit of the society.The need to give the public the best and leave them the chance of deciding for themselves. Imagine a society where people work like journlists with devoted devotion to please and make others happy,it will be perfect.
They keep us updated with what is taking place in the world and set for us important agendas in the society.They expose the weakness' of people in the society and help them to become better people.Woodrow said that,if he was to choose between government and the media he will choose the media.This can be good because government favours a certain class of people unlike the media that favours nobody,it gives facts as they are and gives a chance to the society to judge.we don't have opposition in the media where public resources are wasted with campaigns,in media industry,journalists from different media houses compete,not for their own personal interest but the desire to give the society the best news,the desire to play their role of informing the public as they deserve.
All in all,whatever media houses do is not for their own benefit to a larger extent but the benefit of the society.The need to give the public the best and leave them the chance of deciding for themselves. Imagine a society where people work like journlists with devoted devotion to please and make others happy,it will be perfect.
Friday, November 28, 2008
RESPECT JOURNALISTS
This is a journalist speaking from Makerere university.Just like many developing countries,journalists are treated like criminals,if not worse.The representative government inUganda does not recognise this informing body.Their role is neglected as codes and unfair laws are enacted each day for them to follow.
The constitution states clearly that there is freedom of expression.According to louis Hodges,journalists should keep checks on the government and inform the puplic,but i am surprised that in Uganda,the role has changed as the goververnt is the one putting checks on the media.look at our role model journalists like Andrew Mwenda,he has been in and out of prison,accused of sedation,defamation or name any crime you may think of,not to forget cases like interfering with national security.
There should be a law indicating clearly how far the government should stretch its hand on the media not only giving media freedom of expression through the front door and taking it from them using the back door with reasons like national security.One leader in Kenya stated that no one is more Kenyan than him and everyone belongs and cares about his country same as the other and therefore journalists should be treated with respect just like any other person in the society.
We know the work of doctors,lawyers,teachers and we respect them without intervention.Why cant the journalists be left to perform their duty of informing the puplic without any government intervention?
The constitution states clearly that there is freedom of expression.According to louis Hodges,journalists should keep checks on the government and inform the puplic,but i am surprised that in Uganda,the role has changed as the goververnt is the one putting checks on the media.look at our role model journalists like Andrew Mwenda,he has been in and out of prison,accused of sedation,defamation or name any crime you may think of,not to forget cases like interfering with national security.
There should be a law indicating clearly how far the government should stretch its hand on the media not only giving media freedom of expression through the front door and taking it from them using the back door with reasons like national security.One leader in Kenya stated that no one is more Kenyan than him and everyone belongs and cares about his country same as the other and therefore journalists should be treated with respect just like any other person in the society.
We know the work of doctors,lawyers,teachers and we respect them without intervention.Why cant the journalists be left to perform their duty of informing the puplic without any government intervention?
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