Journalists win case against media council
By Ruth Anderah
High Court in Kampala has quashed with costs the directives issued by the Media Council of Uganda seeking to have journalists registered to cover the ongoing elections and other state events.
The directive was issued by the presiding judge Esta Nambayo who issued a permanent injunction against the council directive of registering journalists saying it is illegal, irrational and irregular.
In her judgement delivered to parties via email, Justice Nambayo further ruled that registering journalists without an operational national institute of journalists of Uganda, NIJU in accordance with the press and journalism act is illegal.
On December 31st 2020, journalists under the Editors Guild Uganda and the Centre for Public Interest Law sued the government challenging the directive by the Media Council citing lack of legal mandate.
The directive demanded both local and foreign journalists to be accredited to cover the ongoing general election.
Francis Gimara, the lawyer who represented the journalists, has welcomed the ruling saying the same is consistent with the rule of law.
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