Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni had a three-day visit here last week. The purpose of the trip was to strengthen trade ties between the neighbouring states, so went the official line.
Ahem, let’s say it again. Please, scribe, never use the cliché “strengthening trade ties” or similar official jargon in your report. Leave them to government officials who know exactly what they mean. Away from carpeted floors, air conditioners, mahogany furniture, designer suits, manicured lawns and so on, out here no one understands “strengthening trade ties”.
Tell your audience what Museveni came to do here in plain English. If you don’t know, you have no story. You are wasting people’s time – and annoying them in the process.
And that is precisely what K24 TV did on Friday in a report about the end of Museveni’s tour. The story featured muted footage and still photos.
“The visiting president, Uganda’s Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Friday afternoon concluded his three-day tour of Kenya, where he held bilateral talks with his Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta,” the station reported.
Just like that? Viewers are supposed to understand “bilateral talks”? What is the information in this statement? What is its value?
“Museveni kicked off the day with a visit to the mausoleum of Kenya’s founding father the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, where he was accompanied by Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale.
“Museveni later visited retired President Daniel arap moi at his Kabarnet Gardens home where he held discussions on various issues.”
What is “various issues”? How are K24 TV viewers supposed to make sense of that? A journalist who tells viewers that “they discussed various issues” and goes home believing he has communicated needs prayers!
“The Ugandan president ended his Kenyan tour with a public lecture at Kenyatta University, which was attended by four Cabinet Secretaries including Prof George Magoha of Education, foreign affairs CS Monicah Juma and Petroleum CS John Munyes.”
What was the lecture about?
“Museveni urged the youth to use modern technologies to earn a living instead of relying on the government for jobs.”
Oh, he did? Sawa.
“The visit to Kenyatta University was however marred by a scuffle after a group of students chanting anti-Museveni slogans, complaining of being locked out of the amphitheatre before they were dispersed by the police.”
Really? KU students rioted because they were stopped from entering the lecture hall where Museveni was? Why would they chant anti-Museveni slogans if they were protesting against being blocked from hearing him? Because university students are stupid – always rioting for no reason, eh?
Folks! This is 2019, not 1984.
