Photographers in Gulu

Northern Uganda Media Club launches project to amplify voices of marginalized communities ahead of 2026 elections

Reporting style, Balanced: Mix of factual reporting with subjective statements and advocacy-oriented viewpoints

Political context, Centre: Focuses on civic engagement, accountability, and community issues without endorsing a partisan stance

A coalition led by the Northern Uganda Media Club launched a project to strengthen community media, digital safety, and civic engagement ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections. The initiative seeks to amplify the concerns of marginalized groups, focusing on land rights, climate justice, environmental degradation, and access to justice. Project coordinator Alfred Oryem emphasized empowering digital ambassadors and protecting journalists and human-rights defenders. Contributors highlighted the need for professionalism in journalism, fact-based reporting, and addressing regional issues such as poverty and climate impacts. Stakeholders encouraged journalists and political actors to prioritize environmental sustainability, women’s and children’s rights, and community-focused development.

The BIG FIX Uganda celebrates the 11th graduation of comfort dog guardians

Reporting style, Balanced: Mix of factual reporting with personal anecdotes and subjective reflections on trauma and healing

The BIG FIX Uganda marked the 11th graduation of its Comfort Dog Project, a program pairing specially trained therapy dogs with trauma survivors to support emotional healing. Director Francis Okello Oloya highlighted dogs’ unique temperaments and their positive impact on individuals facing PTSD, depression, and the long-term effects of conflict. Participants shared testimonies of recovery, improved coping mechanisms, and renewed emotional stability through companionship with their dogs. Despite successes, challenges persist, including negative attitudes toward dogs, instances of cruelty, and cultural resistance. The organization continues to promote animal welfare, humane population control, and legal accountability for animal abuse while noting growing acceptance, especially among women, as community attitudes slowly improve.

Ethiopia’s National Parks Are Working for Wildlife – But Not Always for the People Living Near Them

Reporting style, Balanced: Research-based analysis with evidence from a national study, combined with advocacy for more equitable conservation funding and livelihood support.

A national assessment of Ethiopia’s protected areas found that they successfully reduce tropical forest loss, limit agricultural expansion, maintain grasslands and protect threatened and endemic species. However, households living within 10 kilometres of protected areas were more likely to experience hunger and declining living standards, averaging just over an additional month without sufficient food between 2011 and 2016. The findings suggest that conservation can restrict farming opportunities for rapidly growing rural populations, creating substantial livelihood costs. Ethiopian conservation experts favored improving existing protected areas over expanding them, while examples such as the Yayu Coffee Biosphere Reserve show that conservation and local income generation can coexist. The researchers argue that achieving the global 30-by-30 conservation target will require long-term funding, livelihood programs and compensation for communities bearing the costs of protecting nature.

Uganda Weaves Culture, Youth, and Science to Protect Its Wetlands

Reporting style, Informative: Mostly factual reporting based on official remarks and conservation developments, with an optimistic and advocacy-oriented framing.

Uganda is combining wetland science, government policy, cultural traditions, civil society, and youth engagement to address decades of urbanisation, population growth, and agricultural expansion that reduced intact wetland cover to 9.3 percent. The country gazetted all its wetlands in 2024, placing more than 800,000 hectares under legal protection, and plans to restore wetland cover to 12 percent by 2040. A Kampala dialogue convened by Join for Water Uganda brought together ministry officials, Buganda Kingdom representatives, and students to promote traditional conservation knowledge, community leadership, women’s participation, and stronger environmental journalism. Partnerships with InfoNile are intended to connect scientists and journalists and turn environmental data into public action across the Nile Basin.

Cargo Drivers Task East African Community Bloc on Compensation, Security

Reporting style, Informative: Mostly factual reporting with minimal subjective language

Truck drivers from Uganda and Kenya urged the East African Community to ensure compensation and stronger security after a series of armed attacks on cargo convoys along the Nimule‑Juba highway left multiple drivers killed or injured. Survivors and families of victims called on South Sudan to take responsibility for medical care and compensation, while union leaders documented dozens of casualties since 2015. Regional security officials pressed South Sudan to remove roadblocks, strengthen convoy protection and escort cargo movements. South Sudanese authorities reported disbanding checkpoints in response to the truckers’ demands.