KAMPALA, Uganda (UG Standard) — Award-winning Ugandan journalist Solomon Sserwanja has told BBC listeners that the situation for journalists in Uganda is dire, with his wife Vivian Nakalika begging him to stop practicing journalism to avoid risking his life.
Sserwanja, who was part of a panel discussion on BBC’s Focus on Africa news program, said the dangers of being a journalist in Uganda are growing, with his wife fearing she could become a widow and their children orphans at a young age.
The BBC panel discussion featured three eminent journalists from countries considered to be among the worst places to practice journalism, including Uganda and Cuba. The discussion centered on the impact of the Donald Trump administration’s decision to defund Voice of America on media freedom and funding in countries with poor media freedom rankings.
Sserwanja, who is also the Executive Director of the African Institute for Investigative Journalism, said the defunding of Voice of America would have far-reaching consequences for Ugandan journalists, constraining their ability to access quality and independent news reporting.
He noted that Voice of America cash grants have enabled the growth and professionalization of Ugandan media, with many journalists relying on the organization for employment.
Sserwanja also discussed the threats posed by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the President’s son and Chief of Defense Forces, who he described as one of the biggest threats to Ugandan media. He criticized Gen. Kainerugaba’s tweets, which sarcastically praised military personnel who allegedly tortured innocent Ugandans, including journalists, during the Kawempe by-election campaigns.
Sserwanja predicted that Gen. Kainerugaba’s actions would lead to increased persecution of journalists as the country approaches the 2026 general elections.
However, he later emphasized that the media faces universal threats, including the implosion of social media, declining advertising revenues, funding problems, and fake news, which affect not only developing countries like Uganda but also global media outlets.
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